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Off‑Duty NYPD Officer Indicted in Bronx Shooting That Left Passenger on Ventilator

Prosecutors say unauthorized searches of NYPD databases spurred a personal pursuit that ended in a shooting, raising questions about officers' access to internal systems.

Overview

  • Bronx prosecutors indicted 44‑year‑old Officer Jonathan Baez on attempted murder and related counts after an arraignment on Thursday, and he pleaded not guilty with bail set and reportedly posted.
  • Prosecutors allege Baez chased a white Hyundai linked to a March theft, jumped out with a gun, ordered a driver to the ground, and fired two shots that struck a 30‑year‑old passenger who remains on a ventilator.
  • The indictment says Baez ran more than 200 unauthorized searches of NYPD tools including the Domain Awareness System and license‑plate readers while trying to locate his stolen 2024 Honda CR‑V.
  • Charges include attempted murder, assault, kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, computer trespass and official misconduct, and the NYPD's Force Investigation Division referred the case to the Bronx DA.
  • The case has prompted scrutiny of police data access and department discipline after reports conflicted on whether Baez is suspended with pay, and it could lead to administrative reviews and changes to internal controls.