64.0°,
A Few Clouds One dead, one arrested after botched North Valley Stream robbery
A suspect in a North Valley Stream home invasion is dead, likely from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after he exchanged gunfire with police inside the house he was trying to rob on Monday night. A second suspect is under arrest, facing burglary and weapons charges.
At about 9:15 p.m., 5th Precinct officers were called to a burglary in progress at a home on Dana Avenue, near the Howell Road School. The first officer who responded kicked down a door of the house and was able to lead the family — two adults and four children — to safety.
That was when gunshots rang out. Police say that one of the suspects, 37-year-old Timothy Capers, of Queens, began firing at the officer, who then shot back. Police officials said that several rounds were fired, and at least one bullet hole was visible from outside the house.
Detective Lt. John Azzata said that the incident — which involved as many as three robbers, according to police and witnesses — began when a resident of the home pulled into the driveway, got out of a white Nissan Murano and was accosted by at least one of the suspects. He was on the phone with his brother at the time, and his brother called police after suspecting there was a problem. “When the phone went dead, the brother called 911,” Azzata said.
At least two suspects forced their way into the home. Once inside, the robbers tied up the two adults and the oldest child using electrical cords.
The suspects then began ransacking the house, looking for cash and other property, police said. Shortly afterward, the first officer arrived on the scene. The officer learned that the suspects and the family were inside, forced his way in and got the family out.
“This guy is a straight-up hero,” said County Legislator Carrié Solages, whose district includes the North Valley Stream neighborhood. “I commend his efforts, and I’m very thankful that we have officers like him on the force.”
According to police, there was a gun battle in the hallway of the house between the first officer and Capers. More police soon arrived and, thinking that the officer was trapped inside, went in and exchanged more gunfire with Capers.
“Preliminary investigation reveals that during the exchange of gunfire, the suspect may have taken his own life,” said Detective Kenneth Lack, adding that this conclusion would not be confirmed until an autopsy was completed.
Solages said he saw the covered body of the suspect being taken out of the house at around 9 a.m. on Tuesday.
A second suspect, 47-year-old Levy Robinson of Jamaica, Queens, was in a back room during the shooting and eventually surrendered, police said. Officers said they did not believe he fired any shots. He was charged with first-degree robbery, two counts of first-degree burglary and four counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He was arraigned Wednesday in First District Court and is being held in jail without bail.
Six officers were injured, but none of the injuries were gunshot wounds. Several suffered ear injuries from the noise of the gunshots.
“The heroic actions of all the responding officers certainly saved the occupants from extraordinarily dangerous, armed individuals,” Lack said. The first officer on the scene, who was not identified, has been a member of the department since 2007, according to police officials.
Police say they believe the home invasion was an isolated incident, and it is likely that the home was targeted. “It was not random,” Azzata said.
A third suspect may still be at large. Witnesses described a helicopter circling over the area after the incident. Bernadin Fleurima, who lives five houses away, said he saw a man run by his house, get into a silver car and drive away.
Fleurima said he was watching a movie in his home when he heard the gunshots, and that he was concerned for his neighbors. “They are very nice people and have never been in trouble,” he said. “We were all shocked.”
According to officials, the children attend the nearby Howell Road School. The school’s west parking lot entrance is just beyond the home’s driveway. Howell Road was closed during the investigation, so all school traffic had to use the Laurel Place entrance on Tuesday morning.
Superintendent Dr. Adrienne Robb-Fund said that psychologists and social workers were available for any parents and students who were traumatized by the incident. Even though the robbery took place next to the school, Robb-Fund said, she is not concerned about the safety of the neighborhood, adding, “I believe this is an isolated incident.”
Police say they do not know the motive for the robbery, and their investigation is ongoing.
