BRONX MAN FACING UP TO 25 YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF A NEW YORK CITY POLICE OFFICER

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that Bronx man is facing up to twenty five years imprisonment following his conviction on charges that he tried to kill a New York City Police Officer assigned to the Emergency Services Unit.

Jose Torres, 38, of 1257 Bronx River Avenue, was found guilty on one count of Attempted Murder in the 2nd degree.

State Supreme Court Justice David Stadtmauer set sentencing for Monday, December 2, 2002 in Part T-19.

The incident occurred on July 31, 2001 when police were in the process of executing a no knock search warrant at the defendant’s second floor apartment. The NYPD Gang Unit obtained the warrant based on information that guns and ammunition were in the apartment. As ESU Detectives Terrance McTigue, John McCullough, Thomas Bender and Police Officer Kevin Keuchler identified themselves as police officers and forced the door open with a battering ram, Torres fired three shots at them from a 9 MM Cobray semi-automatic pistol. Detective McCullough was grazed in the elbow by a bullet that ricocheted and bounced off the vest worn by another Detective George Mereno of the NYPD Gang Unit. Police returned fired knocking the weapon from the defendant’s hand. Investigators took Torres into custody and recovered the 9MM Cobray, a .45 caliber Taurus semi-automatic pistol and two thousand rounds of ammunition.

Senior Trial Assistant District Attorney Stuart Levy of the Investigations Division is prosecuting the case.