A look at Bronx cop shooter Remeek Smith’s open gun case from 2020 — and why he wasn’t in jail

Rameek Smith may’ve been in jail on a gun rap — and was in a court-ordered psychological well being program when he received right into a shootout with cops Tuesday night time.

The 25-year-old felon injured an officer within the melee and was shot within the head. He died at a hospital early Wednesday night time.

A evaluation of court docket information by The Publish revealed that Smith was free on a March 2020 gun rap on the time regardless of a bid by prosecutors to have him held on $50,000 bail.

Right here’s a have a look at the case:

March 14, 2020

Smith is seen leaping a turnstile on the Coney Island subway station in Brooklyn. He runs from cops and suffers cuts to his legs when he jumps onto the tracks, information present.

He's arrested and charged with possession of a loaded .32-caliber handgun. The highest cost is second-degree legal possession of a weapon, which is eligible for bail even below the controversial 2019 state legal justice reform measures.

March 20, 2020

Rameek Smith
Rameek Smith was shot useless Tuesday night time after opening fireplace on two officers within the Bronx.
Natasha Ramos

A Brooklyn grand jury indicts Smith on a number of costs, together with third-degree legal possession of a weapon, legal trespass, reckless endangerment and resisting arrest.

The decreased gun cost stems from the truth that the bullets within the firearm had been “inoperable,” in accordance with information. That cost is just not bail-eligible below the state reforms. 

Aug. 19, 2020:

Smith is lastly arraigned on the indictment. He's launched with out bail, information present.

Oct. 8, 2020:

Police at the scene of a shooting in the Bronx.
Police on the scene of a capturing within the Bronx the place Officer Dennis Vargas was shot.
William C. Lopez/NYPOST

Brooklyn prosecutors stated they requested that Smith be held on $50,000 bail, citing a 2016 theft conviction on Staten Island for which he served 4 months in jail and was sentenced to 5 years of probation.

The choose denied the request and allowed Smith to stay free with out bail. 

Dec. 21, 2021:

Smith pleads responsible to 2 counts on the indictment — fourth-degree legal possession of a weapon, a misdemeanor, and third-degree tried legal possession of a weapon, a category E felony.

As a situation of the plea deal, the felony cost will likely be dropped if Smith completes a two-year therapy program and goes by way of Psychological Well being Court docket as an alternative choice to incarceration, in accordance with a court docket transcript.

His participation in this system would have helped decide his eventual sentence.

Might 4, 2022:

At a compliance listening to, a rep for the Brooklyn Psychological Well being Court docket tells the choose Smith is “doing properly” and going to group and particular person periods in a psychological well being and dependancy program, in accordance with a transcript.

Nevertheless, the rep implies Smith hasn’t been going to his appointments for in-person toxicology testing.

“He has reported to us that he's ingesting much less and he has minimized the alcohol use, however a part of his therapy plan is to supply toxicology so we are able to be sure that,” the rep says.

Might 10, 2022:

NYPD Officer Dennis Vargas leaves the hospital
NYPD Officer Dennis Vargas leaves the hospital after being wounded within the Bronx shootout with Remeek Smith.
PBA

Smith is strolling close to Third Avenue and Claremont Parkway within the Bronx when two cops from the borough public security crew spot him with a gun round 10:45 p.m.

Smith flees from the officers, then turns round on Bathgate Avenue and fires two photographs on the cops, hanging Officer Dennis Vargas within the arms, police stated.

His associate returns fireplace, hitting Smith.Smith, who was struck at the back of the top, is pronounced useless at St. Barnabas Hospital round 3:30 a.m., police stated. 

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