Moment Queens senior shoots mugger who appeared to threatened him
Queens Man Kills Mugger in Botched Robbery
On Wednesday at around 2 a.m., Charles Foehner, 65, found himself confronted by a 32-year-old man outside a parking garage on 82nd Avenue near Queens Boulevard in Kew Gardens. Surveillance footage obtained by The Post shows the man, identified by police sources as Cody Gonzalez, approaching Foehner. Gonzalez can be seen cutting off Foehner, who was smoking a cigarette while on his way home. Gonzalez, wearing a dark hoodie and jeans, backs off only briefly upon seeing Foehner’s silver revolver. Foehner can be seen backing up and slowly drawing his gun. Despite having the revolver pointed directly at him at a near-blank range, Gonzalez continues to weave around, clenching something in his right hand before he charged at Foehner. Foehner shot the would-be-crook multiple times in the chest, killing him.
Foehner, who lives in the area where the shooting took place, spoke to The Post in 2020 about the steady uptick in crime in Queens. “This isn’t our nice little neighborhood anymore,” Foehner said. “People come down the block and key a car as they pass it. Drug deals are going on in the lobby. Six weeks ago two people got shot, and not even a week ago they came by — and I don’t know if it’s auto or semi-auto or full-auto fire, I don’t know — but someone shot at the hotel,” Foehner said. “This is not how I want my neighborhood.”
Foehner was taken into custody for questioning following the deadly encounter, and the Queens District Attorney’s office is expected to charge him with criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm. Sources said prosecutors are also considering additional charges.
FAQs:
What happened in the shooting?
Charles Foehner, 65, was confronted by a 32-year-old man, identified as Cody Gonzalez, outside a parking garage on 82nd Avenue near Queens Boulevard in Kew Gardens. Gonzalez appeared to threaten Foehner during a botched robbery. Foehner, carrying a silver revolver, shot and killed Gonzalez multiple times in the chest.
Was Foehner justified in using deadly force?
The case is currently under investigation and no official determination has been made. Foehner is expected to face charges for criminal possession of a firearm.
What did Foehner say about his neighborhood and crime in Queens?
Foehner, who lives in the area where the shooting took place, spoke to The Post in 2020 about the steady uptick in crime in Queens. “This isn’t our nice little neighborhood anymore,” Foehner said. “People come down the block and key a car as they pass it. Drug deals are going on in the lobby. Six weeks ago two people got shot, and not even a week ago they came by — and I don’t know if it’s auto or semi-auto or full-auto fire, I don’t know — but someone shot at the hotel,” Foehner said. “This is not how I want my neighborhood.”
What charges is Foehner facing?
The Queens District Attorney’s office is expected to charge Foehner with criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm, and sources say prosecutors are considering additional charges.
“Senior Citizen Defends Himself by Shooting Mugger Who Seemed to Pose a Threat”
Surveillance footage obtained by The Post shows the moment a Queens man shot and killed a mugger who appeared to threaten him during a botched robbery. The incident occurred outside a parking garage on 82nd Avenue near Queens Boulevard in Kew Gardens at around 2 a.m. on Wednesday. Charles Foehner, 65, was confronted by 32-year-old Cody Gonzalez, who was wearing a dark hoodie and jeans and appeared to be armed. Gonzalez can be seen cutting off Foehner, who was smoking a cigarette while on his way home. Despite having his silver revolver pointed directly at him, Gonzalez continued to weave around Foehner, clenching something in his right hand before charging at him. Both men were outside the camera’s field of vision when Foehner opened fire, shooting Gonzalez multiple times in the chest.
After the shooting, Gonzalez appeared back on camera, running down the parking garage driveway before collapsing on the ground. Police found a gun near his body, along with a pen in his hand, which Foehner said he believed had been a knife. Foehner called 911 immediately after the incident and was taken into custody for questioning. The Queens District Attorney’s office is expected to charge him with criminal possession of a firearm, while prosecutors are mulling additional charges.
Foehner, who lives in the area where the shooting took place, said in 2020 that there had been a steady uptick in crime in Queens. “This isn’t our nice little neighborhood anymore,” he said at the time, citing rising levels of violent crime and homelessness. “People come down the block and key a car as they pass it. Drug deals are going on in the lobby. Six weeks ago two people got shot, and not even a week ago they came by — and I don’t know if it’s auto or semi-auto or full-auto fire, I don’t know — but someone shot at the hotel. This is not how I want my neighborhood.” Foehner is expected to face charges for criminal possession of a firearm.