A Bloomfield man is charged with felony murder for allegedly causing the death of a bystander.
Alvin Smothers (Westchester County District Attorney's Office) MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. -- A Bloomfield man has been charged with murder for his alleged role in a police shooting last year that left an innocent bystander dead, LoHud.com reported.
Alvin Smothers, 37, who was arraigned in Westchester County Court Wednesday, pleaded not guilty in the felony murder of Felix Kumi, 61. Smothers also faces a robbery charge.
Authorities say that on Aug. 28, an undercover NYPD officer working on an investigation in the Bronx arranged to purchase two guns from a suspect, Jeffrey Aristy, 28. Aristy got in the officer's unmarked car and directed him to a location in Mount Vernon. Authorities say the two picked up Smothers in Mount Vernon and continued to discuss the transaction as they drove before Aristy told him to pull over.
Smothers then allegedly pointed an object at the officer's head and demanded cash. After the officer handed it over, Aristy and Smothers fled, authorities say. The officer called for backup and pursued Smothers, who pointed a gun at the officer. The officer opened fire, hitting Smothers three times. Kumi, a school bus driver and father of two, was standing behind Smothers when the officer fired and was hit twice. He later died from his wounds.
Smothers' lawyer, Allan Focarile, said in court Wednesday Smothers was carrying a broken pellet gun, did not point it at the officer's head and put the gun away when he ran. The undercover officer fired on Smothers as he was fleeing, Focarile said, adding that the officer failed to identify himself.
"As far as I know, all he did was run away," Focarile said. "There's no reason for this cop to be shooting."
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