Police Release Security Video, Announce Arrests in Drive-By

YONKERS, NY — Security footage released by the Yonkers police, shows the moment a late spring afternoon suddenly turned violent as a shooter appears to lean out of a rear car window and open fire on the sidewalk.

On Saturday morning, Yonkers police also released the identities of three suspects charged in connection with the drive-by shooting that authorities say is connected to gang activity. Officials say a fourth suspect was taken into custody, but has not been charged at this time.

Investigators say a connected system of license plate readers in the region along with assistance from nearby jurisdictions quickly led police to the car believed to have been used in the shooting. Yonkers Police Department, Mount Vernon Police Department and FBI agents assigned to the Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force found and arrested the suspects after a foot chase.

Police also recovered an illegal handgun, described as a Springfield Armory XD 9mm semi-automatic pistol. Investigators believe this is the weapon used in Thursday’s shooting.

The suspected driver is identified as Andre McKenzie, a 21-year-old Greenwich resident. Tyrese White, an 18-year-old resident of Mount Vernon, was also charged. White is already wanted by the NYPD for a prior robbery charge and by the Mount Vernon Police Department for a prior assault charge.

The alleged shooter has been identified as a 17-year-old resident of Mount Vernon, but due to his age, he has not been identified.

Police say the three are each being charged with attempted murder, felony assault and illegal firearm possession charges.

In thanking his officers for quickly getting the suspects in the shooting into custody, Yonkers Police Commissioner John Mueller also expressed frustration with laws he says are too often designed to protect criminals rather than the public.

“My sincere gratitude to the men and women of the Yonkers Police Department and our law enforcement partners for once again apprehending in short order those who would perpetrate violence in our communities,” Mueller said. “The increase in violence we are seeing locally and regionally, specifically shootings with juvenile triggermen, is a direct result of broken laws that levy no consequences or accountability.”

Investigators say that just before the incident, there were approximately ten people on the sidewalk and in the street at the site of the drive-by shooting just west of the convenience store at 150 Elm Street. An older model gray Toyota Camry drove towards the group on Elm Street. As the car drove past the group, a gunman leaned out the rear passenger window and fired a handgun at least ten times in the direction of the sidewalk.

In all, four victims were wounded. Investigators say the motivation for this incident is connected to gang activity and believe the shooter was targeting possible rivals among the group.

The most seriously injured victim is a 28-year-old Yonkers woman who suffered a gunshot wound to her chest. She is listed in critical but stable condition.

A 31-year-old Yonkers man with a gunshot injury to his leg is being treated at the hospital. He is said to be in stable condition. A 24-year-old Yonkers man with a gunshot injury to his ankle is listed in stable condition and a 23-year-old Yonkers man with a gunshot injury to his right leg is listed in stable condition.

The shooting took place less than a block away from where a 6-year-old playing on his front porch was struck in the shoulder by a stray bullet. Police arrested three teenagers in connection with this April 30 shooting. Investigators do not believe that the child was the intended target, but that the shooters were targeting each other.

Calling the Yonkers police “unmatched,” Mayor Mike Spano said city and law enforcement officials are committed to putting down what is fast becoming an epidemic of gang violence in the city.

“These individuals are now in custody and off our streets thanks to the relentless work of our tireless men and women in blue,” Spano said. “Let this be a call to those persons who seek to inflict harm on others in our city. I am directing every resource available to aid us in combating this war on our community, streets, and on the lives of the hard-working residents of this city. Violence will not prevail.”