A New York deputy police commissioner has been fired after prosecutors accused her of helping her son flee the scene of an alleged gang-related shooting in New York City.
Jennifer Lackard, a deputy police commissioner with the Mount Vernon Police Department, and her 20-year-old son, Chase Lackard, were arrested Tuesday morning at their home, according to the New York Post.
Police sources told the outlet that Chase Lackard is accused of opening fire on rival gang members near the Bronx Criminal Court in late June. Authorities said no one was injured in the shooting.
Investigators allege Chase ran to his mother's vehicle immediately after the gunfire, and Jennifer Lackard drove him away from the scene.
Both Jennifer and Chase Lackard now face multiple felony charges, including attempted murder, attempted assault, criminal possession of a firearm, conspiracy and reckless endangerment.
The Mount Vernon Police Department announced Tuesday that Jennifer Lackard had been terminated effective immediately.
In a statement posted on social media, the department said the allegations were unrelated to her official duties and did not involve conduct connected to her work with the agency.
"The allegations are unrelated to her duties with the Mount Vernon Police Department and do not stem from any conduct associated with the Department or the performance of her official responsibilities," the department said.
Authorities have not publicly released additional details about the investigation or the evidence that led to the arrests.
Chase Lackard has had multiple previous encounters with law enforcement.
In 2024, he was shot by police after allegedly displaying a firearm during an argument.
The report also states that he was wounded in a separate 2023 incident after an altercation aboard a bus.
According to police sources cited by the Post, Chase allegedly confronted three other youths, demanded to know their gang affiliation and attempted to pull one of them off the bus before he was shot in the chest.
The Post reported that investigators believe Chase Lackard is affiliated with a gang known as the "Slutty Gang."
The latest case has drawn attention because of Jennifer Lackard's senior role in law enforcement.
Prosecutors allege she played an active role in helping her son escape after the shooting rather than reporting the incident to authorities.
The criminal case remains ongoing, and both defendants are expected to face the charges in court as prosecutors continue their investigation into the June shooting.