CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. — A trigger happy Nassau County cop needlessly shot a terrified cab driver after a traffic dispute in Huntington Station early Sunday morning, the hack's lawyer said today.
The officer and another Nassau County policeman - both off duty - were returning home in separate cars from a night out in Huntington Village when they became lost, according to Suffolk County police.
Taxi driver Thomas Moroughan, 26, became irritated by their driving manner and eventually pulled up behind the two men after they stopped on a shoulder in Huntington Station to try figure out the best way home, cops said.
After a brief argument, the cabbie revved his engine and started driving towards one of the cops who had exited his vehicle, cops said. The unidentified officer shot Moroughan several times, striking him in the chest and forearm.
His attorney, William Petrillo, skewered the official story and accused the cop of firing his weapon with no justification.
"The off-duty officer was driving in a reckless and dangerous manner and following a verbal dispute unjustly fired multiple shots at an innocent cabdriver," he said. "The charges against Mr. Moroughan are fabricated in a desperate attempt to justify an unjustifiable shooting."
Suffolk cops said the officer then approached Moroughan, identified himself as a cop and demanded that he exit his cab. Moroughan refused and partially struck both officers as he sped his way to Huntington Hospital to have his gunshots treated, police said. They suffered minor cuts and abrasions.
Petrillo said that the shooter bashed in the cab's driver side window after unloading his weapon and then socked Moroughan in the face. The haymaker, he said, blackened his eye and broke his nose. Not knowing he was faced with two off duty officers, Petrillo said Moroughan was "terrified" and sped off towards the hospital.
Suffolk cops later arrested Moroughan at the facility where he was treated and eventually released into police custody yesterday. He pleaded not guilty to reckless endangerment and assault raps in Central Islip today and is expected to be released on $2,5000 bail, Petrillo said.
Petrillo scoffed at the accusation that his client purposefully tried to mow down the officer. "He never presented any threat to them at all," he said, adding that he has asked the Suffolk County District Attorney's office to investigate whether or not the officers had been drinking before the incident.
Suffolk County Det. Lt. Gerard Pelkofsky said Sunday that the officer shot at Moroughan because he had no other choice. "He thought he was about to be run over," he said. "He was fearing for his life at that point."
The officer and another Nassau County policeman - both off duty - were returning home in separate cars from a night out in Huntington Village when they became lost, according to Suffolk County police.
Taxi driver Thomas Moroughan, 26, became irritated by their driving manner and eventually pulled up behind the two men after they stopped on a shoulder in Huntington Station to try figure out the best way home, cops said.
After a brief argument, the cabbie revved his engine and started driving towards one of the cops who had exited his vehicle, cops said. The unidentified officer shot Moroughan several times, striking him in the chest and forearm.
His attorney, William Petrillo, skewered the official story and accused the cop of firing his weapon with no justification.
"The off-duty officer was driving in a reckless and dangerous manner and following a verbal dispute unjustly fired multiple shots at an innocent cabdriver," he said. "The charges against Mr. Moroughan are fabricated in a desperate attempt to justify an unjustifiable shooting."
Suffolk cops said the officer then approached Moroughan, identified himself as a cop and demanded that he exit his cab. Moroughan refused and partially struck both officers as he sped his way to Huntington Hospital to have his gunshots treated, police said. They suffered minor cuts and abrasions.
Petrillo said that the shooter bashed in the cab's driver side window after unloading his weapon and then socked Moroughan in the face. The haymaker, he said, blackened his eye and broke his nose. Not knowing he was faced with two off duty officers, Petrillo said Moroughan was "terrified" and sped off towards the hospital.
Suffolk cops later arrested Moroughan at the facility where he was treated and eventually released into police custody yesterday. He pleaded not guilty to reckless endangerment and assault raps in Central Islip today and is expected to be released on $2,5000 bail, Petrillo said.
Petrillo scoffed at the accusation that his client purposefully tried to mow down the officer. "He never presented any threat to them at all," he said, adding that he has asked the Suffolk County District Attorney's office to investigate whether or not the officers had been drinking before the incident.
Suffolk County Det. Lt. Gerard Pelkofsky said Sunday that the officer shot at Moroughan because he had no other choice. "He thought he was about to be run over," he said. "He was fearing for his life at that point."
