Mount Vernon Man Who Shot at Rival Group, Hitting Innocent Bystander Instead, Charged With Attempted Murder

September 26, 2025

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced that a Mount Vernon man who discharged a firearm at a rival, and instead hit an innocent senior citizen sitting nearby, was arraigned on multiple felony charges Thursday afternoon.

Rodney Solomon, 21, of Mount Vernon, was charged in an indictment with attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a class B felony, attempted Assault in the First Degree and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, all class C felonies, and Assault in the Second Degree and Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree, both class D felonies.

Solomon pleaded not guilty to the charges. He is currently being held at the Westchester County Jail on bail in the amount of $250,000 cash/$500,000 bond/$500,000 partially secured bond. He is due back in court on Dec. 18.

DA Cacace said: “As my office outlined to the court, the defendant’s egregious and needlessly violent conduct jeopardized many innocent lives that day. I am only grateful that the innocent bystander who was struck by Mr. Solomon’s bullet survived his injuries and has been released from the hospital. I hope for his continued recovery.”

As alleged in charging documents and statements made on the record in court, on Sept. 17, 2024, at approximately 9:20 p.m., Solomon was present at a residential complex when a rival group arrived and one member of that group discharged a firearm in Solomon’s direction.

Solomon retreated into the apartment complex, retrieved a firearm and returned to the scene. By that time, the initial shooter had already fled. Nevertheless, Solomon fired his weapon at a member of the group anyway, as alleged in a bail application. Instead of hitting its intended target, the bullet struck an innocent bystander, a 70-year-old man who happened to be present near the scene.

The man went to a local hospital, where it was determined that he had suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen. He was treated and subsequently released.

The investigation was conducted by the Mount Vernon Police Department.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Brianna Ciuffi and Violent Criminal Enterprise Bureau Chief James Bavero.

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The charges against the defendant are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.