Cong Xu, a Brooklyn man accused of shooting a Nassau County police officer in 2013 in New Hyde Park, pleaded guilty last Tuesday before receiving a 30-year prison sentence. Xu is due back in court on April 2.
“He’s going away for a long time,” Nassau County PBA President James Carver said.
Police responded to a burglary on Campbell Street at 1:50 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2013. As Xu ran from police, he turned and fired several rounds from a handgun, hitting officer Mohit Arora in the lower abdomen with a 9mm slug, according to authorities.
Arora was transported to North Shore Hospital where he was treated for his injuries that day. He was inactive for one year, but has since made a full recovery. According to police officials, Arora is currently on “restrictive duty.”
“Police work is dangerous work and it goes to show that on any given day, officers can be confronted with life-or-death situations,” Carver said.
Authorities arrested Xu and getaway-driver Renhang Qiu, also of Brooklyn, after a foot and air pursuit that streaked through surrounding streets two years ago, police said. Xu was caught on Flower Lane and Nugent Street.
“I heard what sounded like multiple fireworks,” Nugent Street resident Joe Owens said at the time. “Later on, the police were going up and down the street. “I could see them from my bedroom window. A rumbling sound over my head sounded like an earthquake, but it was a helicopter.”
County police at the time felt the Campbell Street home was targeted, but have still not revealed a reason.
“Mohit is happy with the plea bargain deal,” Carver said. “He’s still recovering from the injury.”
Qiu, who testified against Xu, pleaded guilty last May to first-degree burglary and is serving seven years in prison. Last week, Xu accepted charges of first-degree burglary and assault in front of Acting Nassau Supreme Court Justice Philip Grella.
“Police officers risk their lives every day as they work to keep our communities safe from armed and dangerous criminals,” Acting DA Madeline Singas said. “This burglar had a handgun when he entered a Nassau family’s home. Officer Mohit Arora responded and was shot protecting innocent civilians. As a result of Officer Arora’s heroism and today’s guilty plea, this defendant will no longer be a threat to others for a long time to come.”
