Off-duty NYPD officer points pistol at teens in fit of road rage, official says

An off-duty New York City police detective pulled out his pistol and pointed it at three 16-year-olds on the road in front of him after officials said the teens were forced to suddenly stop, causing him to also brake.

John O’Connell, 36, drove next to the car, rolled down his window and shouted “I have a gun” while aiming a loaded weapon at the teen who was driving on Route 9 in Somers the evening of Aug. 28, according to the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office.

He was armed with a Glock 19 pistol, the district attorney’s office said in a Sept. 2 news release announcing O’Connell’s arrest and temporary suspension from the NYPD’s warrant squad.

O’Connell, of Patterson, New York, is charged with several misdemeanors, according to officials, including second-degree menacing, three counts of endangering the welfare of a child and one count of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

He pleaded not guilty in Somers Town Court on Aug. 29, officials said. Somers is about a 50-mile drive northeast from New York City.

Information on O’Connell’s legal representation was not immediately available.

O’Connell later “continued to drive in an aggressive manner toward the teens before they were able to break off and call the police,” according to their depositions, the district attorney’s office said.

O’Connell was released on his own recognizance because the charges stemming from the road rage incident are not eligible for bail, according to the office.

In response to McClatchy News’ request for comment, an NYPD spokesperson said on Sept. 3 that O’Connell is suspended without pay. The spokesperson did not comment further.

In a statement, Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace said “It is unacceptable for anyone to turn a traffic grievance into a lethal threat.”

“The teenage victims in this case demonstrated a laudable measure of composure in navigating a dangerous situation to safety, and I commend them for their courage,” Cacace added.

O’Connell’s next court appearance is set for Sept. 8, according to Cacace’s office.

This story was originally published September 3, 2025 at 8:53 AM with the headline "Off-duty NYPD officer points pistol at teens in fit of road rage, official says."

Julia Marnin

McClatchy DC

Julia Marnin covers courts for McClatchy News, writing about criminal and civil affairs, including cases involving policing, corrections, civil liberties, fraud, and abuses of power. As a reporter on McClatchy’s National Real-Time Team, she’s also covered the COVID-19 pandemic and a variety of other topics since joining in 2021, following a fellowship with Newsweek. Born in Biloxi, Mississippi, she was raised in South Jersey and is now based in New York State.