Wagswoofs – According to law enforcement sources and prosecutors, a landlord in Brooklyn is now facing gun charges after fatally shooting his tenant over the weekend. The tenant had broken into the landlord’s apartment wielding a Taser.
According to sources and authorities, LaShawn Craig, a military veteran and MTA employee, reportedly shot Timothy Jones after discovering him in his Bedford-Stuyvesant apartment wearing a mask and gloves and carrying a Taser around 9:40 p.m. on Friday.
Prosecutors say that Craig, a 45-year-old train operator, instructed Jones to exit the apartment. However, when Jones reached into his pockets, Craig responded by firing his handgun.
According to sources and the criminal complaint against him, he surrendered the illegal Smith and Wesson 40 caliber pistol to the police and called 911 after the shooting.
According to insiders, Craig and Jones had a dispute regarding family photographs before the situation escalated into violence. Jones, who has a criminal record spanning his entire career and is 64 years old, was involved in the altercation.
The relationship between the two men was unclear.
According to sources, Jones was reported to have shouted, “Where are my photos?” from within the Pulaski Street building, where he resided with Craig.
According to authorities, Jones suffered a fatal injury to his torso that ultimately led to his death at Kings County Hospital Center.
According to the complaint, Craig, who has a clean criminal record, was taken into custody on Sunday and brought before the Brooklyn Criminal Court on Monday. He was charged with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon – one of which is a felony and the other, a misdemeanor – as well as a charge of criminal possession of a firearm.
As per the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, Craig has been released under supervised release, despite prosecutors requesting $50,000 bail.
Sources have indicated that the shooting is currently under investigation as a case of “justified homicide” based on self-defense.
According to sources, Jones had over 20 previous arrests, with a majority of them being related to narcotics and domestic violence. Additionally, he also faced a charge of aggravated unlicensed operation.
In June 2022, he suffered severe injuries in a shooting that occurred inside his apartment located on the second floor of the same building.
Sources have revealed that the death of 19-year-old Briana Zaret occurred in an incident that did not involve Craig. Briana had visited the apartment with a male companion to purchase cocaine.
Authorities arrested 47-year-old Jose Romero from Queens for his alleged involvement in the shooting. According to the police, Romero is facing charges of murder, attempted murder, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon.
Cops reported that Jones was hospitalized in critical condition while Zaret was pronounced dead at the scene.
Blood stains still marked the steps and sidewalk outside the Pulaski Street residence on Monday afternoon, while an MTA jacket was visible on the porch.
A neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous, recounted hearing gunshots while watching TV just three days ago. He expressed confusion over what could have triggered his typically amiable neighbor to resort to violence.
He said, “Craig appears to be a relaxed individual, so it’s unclear why he would do what he’s been accused of. It’s concerning because I witnessed it firsthand.”
According to a local witness, a group of men were gathered on the porch area, discussing something prior to the incident.
According to him, his girlfriend stepped out to get something from the bodega, and upon her return, she heard gunshots. He then went on to praise Craig, describing him as a genuinely kind person. He recounted an instance where his girlfriend accidentally dropped a carton of eggs, and Craig promptly came to her aid by providing her with a new carton. “He’s a really nice dude,” he added.
According to a statement from Michael Cortez, a spokesperson for the MTA, Craig, who has been employed by the agency since 2014, is currently on hold from service while a thorough review of all the facts is conducted.
Sources confirm that Craig has had multiple deployments and is also a veteran.
According to a family friend named Jackie Marshall, Mr. Craig is a genuinely good man. Despite not knowing the details of what happened between him and his tenant, Marshall believes that he is a decent person. The situation is undoubtedly tragic, and hearing about it is a complete shock. Mr. Craig, who is an active Army member and hardworking individual, did not deserve to go through such a terrible ordeal.
Despite a request for comment, the Legal Aid Society, who is representing Craig in the case, has not provided any response.
