Man Who Shot 10 Times in Air Near Chelsea Playground Wearing Ski Mask Pleads Guilty

Man Who Shot 10 Times in Air Near Chelsea Playground Wearing Ski Mask Pleads Guilty by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack SDNY COURTHOUSE, March 19 – A man charged with shooting a gun ten times in the air in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood while wearing a ski mask asked to be released on bond on February 3 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrates Court. Inner City Press was there.    The prosecutor called this dangerous behavior, adding that the defendant was charged with resisting arrested in 2021, although it was pled down to knife possession.   The Federal Defender noted that possession of a knife is no longer illegal in New York City, and emphasized that the gun was fired in the air, not at anyone.    Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein said this was no comfort; bullet come down and injure people. He ordered the defendant detained.   On March 19 the case was indicted and the defendant pled guilty to Count 1 before District Judge Gregory H. Woods, who sent sentencing for July 29. Expect the speed of plea, acceptance of responsibility and saving prosecutorial resources to be raised in connection with sentencing. The case is USA v. Zayas, 1:26-mj-206 (Gorenstein) *** Your support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here to become a patron. Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com Mail: Box 130222, Chinatown Station, NY NY 10013 Reporter's mobile (and weekends): 718-716-3540 Other, earlier Inner City Press are listed here, and some are available in the ProQuest service, and now on Lexis-Nexis.  Copyright 2006-2026 Inner City Press, Inc. To request reprint or other permission, e-contact Editorial [at] innercitypress.com