Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today the release of surveillance video in connection with the death of 28-year-old John Jeff, an off-duty New York City Correction Officer, who was shot and killed four years ago at the corner of Defoe and Ridgedale Streets in Springfield Gardens.

The August 15, 2020, incident was caught on a nearby security camera which was not previously released publicly by investigators.

District Attorney Katz said: “My office has been investigating the murder of an off-duty Correction Officer for over four years. Although cases grow cold, they are never forgotten. We hope that by publicly releasing this surveillance footage we will bring more attention to this senseless unsolved murder. I urge anyone with any information regarding the August 15, 2020, homicide of John Jeff to come forward and help us bring justice for John and his loved ones.”

DA Katz urges anyone with information to contact NYPD Crimestoppers via 800-577-TIPS or via the online link. All tips are confidential and a $30,000 reward is being offered.

According to the ongoing investigation, at approximately 3 a.m. on Saturday, August 15, 2020, John Jeff was a passenger in a black Chevy Malibu that was briefly pulled over at a fire hydrant on Ridgedale Street. The vehicle was operated by a female friend and coworker.

While stopped at the hydrant, the car was blocked by a garbage truck up the road and the driver attempted to reverse to leave the area but was blocked by two additional vehicles from behind: a black Mercedes and a blue BMW further down. Jeff exited the car to ask the drivers to back up and a verbal altercation took place with the occupants of the black Mercedes. Jeff identified himself as an officer and drew his firearm. The black Mercedes then reversed, allowing Jeff to get back into the Malibu and make a left turn onto Defoe Street.

Seconds later, the Malibu was blocked a second time, by a white Infiniti traveling in the opposite direction down Defoe Street. Someone tapped on the car and Jeff exited the vehicle again. A second argument ensued.

At the time of the second dispute, people from a nearby house party had also begun to gather.

Gun fire erupted moments later and the three vehicles, the black Mercedes, the blue BMW and the white Inifniti, immediately fled the scene. Jeff was shot in the head, torso, left arm and left leg, suffering approximately eight gunshot wounds. He was transported to an area hospital and pronounced dead at 3:37 a.m.

Thirteen spent shell casings, along with two fired bullets, one deformed bullet and two live cartridges were found at the scene of the shooting on Defoe Street and a later analysis determined that the bullets were fired from two different firearms. Investigators believe that the victim may have been shot with his own firearm after he was shot with the perpetrator’s firearm, as Jeff’s holster was empty, and the service firearm was not found at the scene.