Daughter Waved Weapon At Youngsters
An Astoria father accused of bringing two illegal BB guns to a local park crowded with parents and small children and firing one of the guns before handing the weapon to his fiveyear old daughter-who ran around waving the gun at other children-has been arraigned on reckless endangerment and other charges.
Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown identified the defendant as Zbigniew Pawlowski, 54, of 23rd Avenue in Astoria, who was arraigned last Thursday night, May 9, before Queens Criminal Court Judge John Zoll on charges of first- and seconddegree reckless endangerment, endangering the welfare of a child, resisting arrest and a violation of the New York City’s Administrative Code-AC 10-131 (firearms).
Pawlowski, who faces up to seven years in prison if convicted, was released on his own recognizance and ordered to return to court on July 9.
“Illegal firearms-whether they be a spring-powered pistol or a more conventional deadly firearm-are a serious threat to public safety,” Brown said. “By allowing a fiveyear old child to play with the loaded BB gun as if it was just a toy, [Pawlowski] is accused of recklessly endangering lives by creating a scenario that could have led to serious injury not just to his own children but innocent others who may have come in contact with the weapon.”
According to the charges, Pawlowski went to Ditmars Park, located at 22-74 Steinway St., at approximately 11:30 a.m. last Tuesday, May 7, with two of his children and two BB guns. While at the park, he allegedly loaded the guns with several plastic pellets and then began shooting one of the guns at a tree.
It is alleged that he then handed the guns to his children-including his five-year-old daughter-and allowed them to shoot the guns at several locations in the park. Pawlowski reportedly then allowed his five-yearold daughter to run around the park with the BB gun, which she waved at other children.
Finally, it is alleged that when police attempted to place handcuffs on Pawlowski, he flailed his arms in an attempt to avoid being handcuffed and placed under arrest.
The investigation was handled by detectives assigned to the 114th Precinct Detective Squad.
Assistant District Attorney Naomi K. Schneidmill of the District Attorney’s Kew Gardens II Bureau is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Daniel M. Sullivan, bureau chief, and Mark Osnowitz and Jennifer L. Naiburg, deputy bureau chiefs, and the overall supervision of Senior Executive Assistant District Attorney for Trial James Clark Quinn.
It was noted that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation and that the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
