Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. has announced the indictment of Joel Nieves, 35, who allegedly discharged a firearm during the Mexican Day Parade in September, injuring a 17-year-old innocent bystander in what could have easily escalated into a more widespread tragedy, according to an official statement from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
The charges against Nieves include one count of second-degree attempted murder, and one count of first-degree assault;, and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. “This alleged shooting occurred in the middle of a busy intersection and threatened the safety of countless bystanders,” said D.A. Bragg. “It is incredibly fortunate that additional people were not injured, and I wish the victim a full recovery from her injuries,” Bragg added in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office statement.
Details of the incident, as alleged in court documents and statements made on record, describe that Nieves and his associates became embroiled in a dispute that spiraled into a physical confrontation during the parade on September 21. The altercation briefly ceased before reigniting near East 27th Street and Park Avenue South, where Nieves reportedly drew a firearm and fired into the crowd, striking the teenage girl, before attempting to flee. He was apprehended by NYPD officers close to the crime scene…