111 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
White Plains, NY 10601
Tel: (914) 995-3586
Fax: (914) 995-2116
Oct. 18, 2016 -- Acting Westchester County District Attorney James A. McCarty announced that Hengjun Chao (DOB 12/07/66) of 141 Main St., Tuckahoe, NY was arraigned today on an indictment charging him with:
- one count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a class “B” Felony,
- one count of Criminal Use of a Firearm in the First Degree, a class “B” Felony,
- one count of Assault in the First Degree, a class “B” Felony
in the shooting of Dr. Dennis Charney.
On Aug. 29, 2016 at approximately 7:56 a.m., the defendant was parked in the Walgreen’s parking lot on King Street in Chappaqua. He was waiting for the victim to exit Lange’s Deli.
When the victim left the deli, the defendant retrieved a loaded shotgun from the trunk of his car. He walked towards the victim, took aim and fired one shot, hitting him in the shoulder and chest area. The defendant remained there and was subsequently arrested by New Castle Police officers.
The victim was removed by ambulance and was hospitalized for five days.
Subsequent to his arrest, the defendant stated to police that he was the one who shot the victim.
The defendant was a research assistant professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. He was fired in May 2009 by a committee that included Dr. Charney who at the time and currently is the dean of the school.
The defendant pled not guilty.
His bail was set at one million dollars.
His next court date is Nov. 1, 2016.
The defendant faces a maximum of twenty-five years in state prison.
Assistant District Attorney Christine O’Connor of the Superior Court Trial Division is prosecuting the case.
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In compliance with Disciplinary Rule 7-107A of the Code of Professional Responsibility, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
