NYPD detective accused of pointing gun at teens in road rage incident

Giulia Heyward

Published Sep 2, 2025

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Giulia Heyward

Published Sep 2, 2025

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An off-duty NYPD detective has been charged with menacing and endangering minors after he allegedly pointed a loaded gun at a group of teenagers during a road rage incident in Westchester County last week, authorities said.

Officials say the incident occurred on Thursday around 8:30 p.m. on Route 6 in the town of Somers, after John O’Connell was forced to brake suddenly behind a car carrying three 16-year-olds who had also stopped abruptly due to changing traffic patterns.

O’Connell then allegedly pulled up alongside the teens in his 2024 Honda, rolled down his window and pointed a loaded Glock 19 pistol at the driver, according to court documents.

He continued to drive aggressively toward the teens before they were able to pull away and call the police, officials said.

Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace said the officer had turned “a traffic grievance into a lethal threat.”

“The teenage victims in this case demonstrated a laudable measure of composure in navigating a dangerous situation to safety, and I commend them for their courage,” she said in a statement on Tuesday.

O’Connell, 36, pleaded not guilty to the charges and has been suspended from the force without pay, a spokesperson for the NYPD said. He is expected back in court on Sept. 8. His attorney declined to comment.

All three teenagers have been granted temporary orders of protection.

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new york city

public safety

westchester

Giulia Heyward

Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.

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