iStock
Sept. 15, 2020 By Michael Dorgan
A 25-year-old man who fired at police officers responding to a domestic violence call in College Point Sunday has been charged with attempted murder, according to the Queens District Attorney’s office.
Rodolfo Montero, who faces life in prison if convicted, allegedly attacked the mother of his child and then fired off multiple shots at police officers when they arrived on the scene.
According to the charges, Montero got into an argument with the mother of his child Sunday morning inside her home on 125th Street.
Montero, during the dispute, allegedly choked the 20-year-old woman before his mother tried to intervene — only to be slapped by her son.
Later in the day, Montero and the woman got into another argument with Montero allegedly punching her in the face in the presence of their 1-year-old child.
As the dispute unfolded, Montero allegedly unwrapped a black firearm from a sock-like covering and stated: “I am going to kill you.”
The woman grabbed her daughter and ran from the apartment along with Montero’s mother, prosecutors said.
Police, who received a 911 call about a domestic dispute, arrived at the scene at around 4:30 p.m. and upon exiting their car heard gunfire and saw flashes coming from a window inside the woman’s home.
The officers took cover behind a parked car and watched as multiple bullets struck another vehicle.
After a brief standoff, Montero was taken into custody and police found a loaded AK 47 assault rifle inside the residence.
Montero was arraigned Tuesday morning at Queens Criminal Court on the attempted murder charge as well as weapon charges including criminal possession of a weapon in the second and third-degree and aggravated criminal possession of a weapon.
He also faces charges of reckless endangerment in the first degree, assault in the third degree, menacing in the second degree, criminal obstruction of breathing or circulation, criminal mischief in the fourth degree, endangering the welfare of a child and harassment in the second degree.
Judge Eugene Guarino held Montero without bail and ordered him to return to court on Friday
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement that she was relieved that the cops weren’t hurt.
“When they arrived on the scene, they had to take cover after being met by gunfire,” Katz said Tuesday. “Thankfully, the officers were not injured during this dangerous situation.”
