Our thanks to Lia Eustachewich and Priscilla DeGregory of the New York Post for covering this Newman Ferrara case:
Men shot at by drunk cop to sue city for $90M
Two men are filing a lawsuit against the city after NYPD Officer Brendan Cronin allegedly shot at them while drunk.
The two men who were randomly shot at 13 times by a blind-drunk cop in Westchester filed a $90 million notice of claim Tuesday detailing their plans to sue the city.
The court papers allege that Joe Felice and pal Robert Borrelli nearly died on April 29 when off-duty NYPD officer Brendan Cronin opened fired at them at a red light in Pelham.
Felice was struck six times and miraculously survived. He will file a $60 million lawsuit for injuries to his arm, torso, shoulder and hand.
“What happened to Rob and me was a random act of violence committed by a ruthless man. This could’ve happened to anyone,” said Felice in a statement. “Today’s filing is a necessary step to hold Officer Cronin and the NYPD fully accountable for the actions that almost cost me my life.”
Borrelli had been driving Felice home that night after playing in a recreational hockey game in Mount Vernon. He wiped away tears at a press conference announcing the notice of claims.
“I honestly don’t know how we survived this unprovoked ambush,” said Borrelli.
Borrelli, who was not struck by bullets, will sue for $30 million for emotional distress as a result of Cronin’s “vicious rampage.”
Cronin, a six-year veteran of the 46th Precinct, was so hammered, he didn’t remember firing the 13 shots, cops said at the time. The 27-year-old was charged with assault and suspended from the force.
He could be indicted on attempted murder charges, the victims’ lawyers said. The Westchester DA’s Office said his case has been heard before a grand jury and a decision is expected in a few days.
Cronin spent the day at a shooting range and downed drinks with other cops in City Island before the fracas. The belligerent cop parked his car on the side of the road at Lincoln and Sixth Avenues for an hour before pulling out a 9mm Glock and spraying bullets at the two men, neither of whom he knew.
Surveillance video showed him approaching Borelli’s stopped car, assuming “a shooter’s stance and (firing) his gun repeatedly,” according to documents.
“Felice realized that he had been shot, began yelling and slumped over to his left,” the claim read. “Approximately 13-14 shots were fired into the car in rapid succession before the shooting stopped.”
Felice, who will have to undergo future surgeries for his injuries, said he was “critically wounded with just minutes to spare before bleeding out and dying.”
“Unfortunately, the road to recovery has been tough and has only just begun – both physically and mentally,” he said.
Cronin threw his hazard lights on and fled the scene but was nabbed by a Pelham cop a few blocks away.
A city Law Department spokesperson had no comment on the claims.