The profession prison in a Yankees jersey who shot a teen lady with a stray bullet close to Manhattan’s Mexican Day Parade admitted to cops, “That’s me … holding the gun” in footage, prosecutors mentioned Tuesday.
Joel Nieves, 35, sang like a canary when police confirmed him surveillance video of the Sunday night taking pictures on the nook of twenty seventh Avenue and Park Avenue — the place he opened fireplace on rival gang members and struck an harmless 17-year-old lady within the shoulder, authorities mentioned at his arraignment.
“That’s me carrying the Yankees jersey and camouflage pants within the {photograph}. I’m holding a gun. I fired it twice,” Nieves confessed to cops, in response to the prison criticism.
Manhattan Assistant District Legal professional Stephanie Ritter instructed the choose, “He admitted to possessing a gun and firing it a rival gang members.”
It’s not clear what sparked the violent dispute.
The teenage sufferer suffered a collapsed lung from the taking pictures and is predicted to stay hospitalized at Bellevue, officers mentioned. Her shaken mom declined remark to The Submit on Tuesday.
Nieves — who’s from The Bronx and has at the least 10 prior arrests — is charged with tried homicide, assault and weapon fees. He appeared earlier than Manhattan Prison Court docket Decide Janet McDonnell, who granted the prosecution’s request and held him on $250,000 money bail.
Nieves may face further fees, too, prosecutors mentioned.
Investigators additionally suspect him within the stabbing of a 24-year-old man that occurred on the nook on twenty eighth Avenue and Madison Avenue simply moments earlier than the taking pictures, authorities mentioned.
New video of the stabbing reveals Nieves holding a scalpel throughout the gang assault of the male sufferer — and the weapon was later discovered on Nieves after he was arrested within the taking pictures, in response to prosecutors.
Cops have already arrested a 14-year-old boy linked to the stabbing and charged him with gang assault.
William Miller
Prosecutors didn’t reveal what gang Nieves is allegedly tied to.
His lawyer, Brad Foster of the Authorized Support Society, tried downplaying Nieves’ prison historical past in courtroom by saying his lone conviction occurred in 2013.
However Nieves additionally pleaded responsible to a 2014 tried theft and did time — and Tuesday’s choose famous he presently has two open warrants for bailing on courtroom dates in separate Brooklyn and Queens issues.
Nieves beforehand pleaded responsible 2014 to second-degree tried theft after he and one other man robbed a lady of her cellphone and purse on the Higher East Facet, in response to the prison criticism.
He was sentenced to 6 months in jail and 5 years probation.
Nieves additionally has numerous different arrests starting from fare evasion, marijuana gross sales and weapon possession.
He’s due again in courtroom Sept. 26.
