Two brothers, Shawn Rivera, 27, and Edwin Rivera, 32, have been charged in a road rage incident with an off-duty police officer in Queens, New York. The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon and resulted in multiple charges for both brothers, including assault, attempted criminal possession of a weapon, and obstructing government administration.
Officer Christopher Campos, who is assigned to the 81st Precinct, encountered a white minivan blocking the roadway on the Queens Blvd. service road. After exchanging words with the minivan’s occupants, later identified as the Rivera brothers, Campos drove around the vehicle and continued on his way. However, the brothers caught up with him and another exchange of words ensued.
During the altercation, Shawn Rivera allegedly smashed the back window of Campos’ personal car, leading Campos to identify himself as a police officer and draw his weapon. The brothers questioned Campos’ credentials and a physical altercation ensued. Both brothers attempted to grab Campos’ weapon, resulting in a round being discharged.
Edwin Rivera was struck in the hand by the bullet and fled the scene, while Shawn Rivera continued to grapple with Campos. Another round was fired, striking Campos in the upper thigh. Backup arrived and apprehended Shawn Rivera. Campos was treated for his injuries and is expected to recover.
Both brothers have previous criminal records for assault, menacing, drunk driving, reckless endangerment, and driving without a license. They were also arrested in 2019 for assaulting a man in Greenpoint with a pipe.
The arraignments for the Rivera brothers were pending as of Thursday evening.
Author: Ryan Scott
Just a guy
