LI NYPD Sergeant, Personal Trainer Indicted In 2019 Shooting

SEAFORD, NY — An NYPD sergeant and a personal trainer from Point Lookout were indicted Wednesday on charges stemming from a fight-fueled shooting last year outside the sergeant's Seaford home.

On Wednesday, the Nassau County District Attorney's office said Justin Ellis, 35, and Patrick Catania, 30, were indicted on felony charges for their roles in the shooting.

During the early morning hours of Oct. 25, 2019, Ellis arrived home and found Catania near the home, prosecutors said. The men knew each other. Catania was trespassing on Ellis' property at the time. Ellis lives in the home with his wife and children. WABC-TV reported at the time the officer had just returned from an NYPD boxing event and found the man at his home with his wife.

Ellis and Catania argued. At one point, Catania got a baseball bat and tried to attack Ellis, prosecutors said. Ellis then shot at Catania twice, hitting him once and leaving him with a chest wound. Both men called 911.

A grand jury indicted Ellis on charges of second-degree assault, a felony. He was released Wednesday on his own recognizance and was scheduled to appear in court Jan. 7. If convicted, Ellis faces up to seven years in prison.

Catania was indicted on a felony charge of second-degree attempted assault and three misdemeanor charges of fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, second-degree menacing and third-degree criminal trespassing. Catania was also released on his own recognizance and was expected to appear in court Jan. 8. If convicted of the top charge, he faces up to 1 1/3 to four years in prison.