Man Charged with Murder after Hudson Valley Bystander Fatally Shot by Police

A man was charged with murder after an incident that led to an undercover officer to fatally shoot an unarmed Hudson Valley bystander.

37-year-old Alvin Smothers of Bloomfield, New Jersey, plead not guilty to charges of 2nd-degree murder and robbery in Westchester County Court Wednesday.

According to the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, on August 28, 2015 an undercover NYPD officer met with Smothers in Mount Vernon during an investigation into an illegal gun sales operation.

The suspect got in the officers unmarked car and began driving in Westchester. Jeffery Aristy, identified as a known gun seller, was already in the vehicle.

The car stopped in the area of Beekman and Tecumesh Avenue in Mount Vernon. Smothers allegedly then pointed what appeared to be a gun at the officer’s head and demanded money.

After the officer handed money Smothers and Aristy fled the scene.

The undercover officer then exited the vehicle, at which point Smothers again allegedly pointed what appeared to be a gun at the officer. The officer then fired his weapon at the defendant.

At the same time 61-year-old Felix Kumi was walking in the area near Smothers. He was shot in the torso and back. Officals say the bullets came from the undercover officer’s gun. Kumi later died from his injuries.

Aristy has been charged by the Special Narcotics Prosecutor in New York County with a 29 count indictment including twenty five charges related to illegal gun sales.

Smothers was remanded to Westchester County Jail. He’s due in court on April 20. He faces 15-25 years in prison.