Bronx Man Charged In Shooting Outside Apartment Building

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Edward A. Caban, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing of a Complaint charging DANTE PETTEWAY with illegally possessing ammunition in connection with a shooting by PETTEWAY in front of a residential building in the Bronx on June 21, 2023.  PETTEWAY was arrested last night and presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, earlier this summer, Dante Petteway opened fire in a residential neighborhood in the Bronx, endangering not only the life of his intended victim, but also the lives of others in the community.  Thanks to our partners at the FBI and the NYPD as well as the career prosecutors of this Office, who have a longstanding history of combatting violent crime in the city, the defendant has now been apprehended.”

NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban said: “This arrest is another example of methodical policing in action.  The NYPD and our law enforcement partners are dedicated to identifying and charging anyone responsible for driving crime and violence in New York City.  The diligence of our NYPD detectives and our colleagues at the FBI and the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District has resulted in one less criminal on our streets today.”

According to the allegations in the Complaint:[1]

On June 21, 2023, at approximately 8:20 p.m., PETTEWAY, accompanied by another individual, walked down the sidewalk of East 167th Street in the Bronx, drew a firearm, and shot multiple rounds across the street.  Below is a still image of PETTEWAY showing PETTEWAY as he fired the gun.

After shooting the firearm, PETTEWAY ran into a nearby apartment building while holding the firearm in his right hand.  A still image from the surveillance footage with PETTEWAY holding the firearm in his right hand is below.

Upon canvassing the scene, NYPD officers recovered five shell casings and also located a vehicle that had been damaged by several bullet holes.  Photographs of several of the recovered shell casings are provided below.

PETTEWAY was not permitted to possess ammunition because of a prior felony conviction for robbery. 

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PETTEWAY, 27, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with one count of possession of ammunition after a felony conviction, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

The statutory maximum penalty is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and NYPD. 

This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Georgia V. Kostopoulos is in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.