Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Jeffrey Morel was arraigned on attempted murder and other charges in connection with a shooting in Far Rockaway that sent bullets flying into a nearby yeshiva and parked cars.

District Attorney Katz said: “It is extremely fortunate that this brazen shooting did not lead to any injuries to students, teachers, innocent bystanders or the defendant’s intended target. We will not tolerate this type of lawlessness on our streets and the defendant will be held to account.”

Morel, 31, of Brookhaven Avenue in Far Rockaway, was arraigned yesterday on charges of attempted murder in the second degree, attempted assault in the first degree, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, reckless endangerment in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, criminal possession of a firearm and three counts of criminal mischief in the fourth degree. Queens Criminal Court Judge Marty Lentz ordered Morel to return to court on May 15.

If convicted of the attempted murder charge, Morel faces up to 25 years in prison.

According to the charges:

• Video surveillance footage showed that on May 1, between approximately 6:54 a.m. and 7:05 a.m., a man entered an apartment building at 9-10 Dinsmore Avenue, approached Morel and pointed what looked like a gun at him. Morel was then seen leaving the building and running into the intersection of Dinsmore Avenue and Beach 9th Street near the Talmud Torah Siach Yitzchok yeshiva.

• The second man was captured on video leaving the building and entering the intersection. Morel pointed a gun at him and fired multiple shots. The target can be seen pointing what appeared to be a gun at Morel.

• Two bullet holes were later found in a window at the school. A bullet hole was discovered in the front panel of a Toyota parked nearby and bullet holes were found in the windshield and driver’s side door of a Honda.

• Police found bullet fragments and one fired bullet inside the school as well as a bullet fragment on the ground in front of the window.

• Police recovered five .40 caliber shell casings from the ground where Morel was seen on video holding the gun. One .45 caliber shell casing and a bullet fragment were found on the ground where the second man was standing. One fired bullet was also found at the intersection.

Assistant District Attorney Lauren Reilly of the District Attorney’s Career Criminal Major Crimes Bureau is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Michael Whitney, Senior Deputy Bureau Chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Shawn Clark.