A New York bus maintenance worker faces second-degree murder charges for allegedly shooting dead an off-duty correction officer in a road rage incident.
Gifford Hunter, 30, from Queens works for the city’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority and reportedly had two encounters with victim Jonathan Narain, who is believed to be a stranger, on Friday.
Narain, 27, was found slumped over the wheel with a gunshot wound to his left temple at 1.45am at the corner of 103rd Avenue and 120th Street in South Richmond Hill, reports NBC New York.
MTA worker Gifford Hunter (left) is believed to have shot Jonathan Narain in the head before speeding off in a motorcycle Friday morning after a short road rage incident
Narain had worked at the New York prison for two years and was driving to work that morning
He was making his way to work at the Rikers Island prison, where he had worked for two years, when he was killed near his home.
A surveillance video caught the exchange between Hunter, who rode a motorcycle, and Narain who was gunned down at close range in his car.
‘Our victim was in a vehicle, and he was making a U-turn, and that’s when the first initial encounter occurred with the motorcyclist,’ NYPD Chief of Investigations William Aubry said, reports Spectrum News NY1.
‘The second encounter occurred right behind me here, where the motorcyclist pulled up beside the vehicle, and it was short exchange of what we believe was a conversation, very, very short, only seconds, and the shot was fired.’
Narain was found slumped over the wheel with a gunshot wound to his left temple at 1.45am
Brother Heymant Budhrum, a New York Fire Department worker, joined others at the intersection where he was found unconscious to remember his life Sunday
Hunter was arrested Sunday after the Correction Officers Benevolent Association (COBA) put out information of a $10,000 for anyone helping them make an arrest and conviction regarding what is being described as a ‘senseless murder’.
Hunter was still wearing his MTA hooded top as he did his perp walk.
‘This was a cold-hearted and senseless act of violence that will not be tolerated,’ Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said.
As well as murder charges, he faces punishment for criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, and criminal use of a firearm in the second degree.
He could be sentenced up to 25 years to life behind bars if found guilty.
Narain was fatally wounded in his left temple and his murderer could face up to life in prison
COBA President Elias Husamudeen, said to Pix 11: ‘The men and women of the COBA are extremely grateful to the NYPD for their relentless efforts in tracking down and arresting the killer of Correction Officer Narain. It’s now time for the Queens District Attorney to prosecute this murderer to the fullest extent of the law.’
The victim had plans to meet with his family after his shift that morning.
Brother Heymant Budhrum joined others at the intersection where he was found unconscious to remember his life Sunday.
‘He told me he was going to see me this Friday,’ the New York Fire Department worker told CBS 2 News. ‘I have no words.
‘Jon I love you bro, I’m always gonna be there for you.’