A teenager has admitted to authorities that on Sunday he shot an NYPD officer guarding New York Mayor Bill de Blasio with a BB gun, police say — but says it was a complete accident.
Verbitsky is reported to have told the authorities that he was playing with a Crosman 760 Pumpmaster air rifle, which was found hidden in an air duct in the apartment, and was shocked when it went off. "It was just an accidental discharge of a BB gun by a 19-year-old," said his attorney, Howard Levine. Levine also said Verbitsky had nothing to do with other recent BB attacks that have taken place in the neighborhood. Verbitsky was arraigned Monday on eight charges, including second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, criminal possession of a weapon, and two counts of criminal mischief. He is out on $10,000 bail, paid in cash by a family member.
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