Photo: iStock
Aug. 27, 2013 By Christian Murray
A New York City Correction Officer was arrested in Woodside Sunday morning for shooting his teenage son, according to police.
The police said the incident took place around 4:30 a.m. at 39-21 57th Street, when Robert Smalls allegedly shot his 17-year-old son in the abdomen after an argument.
Details of the argument were not released. However, the Daily News reported that Smalls fought with his son after the teenager was caught shoplifting drill bits from a Long Island City store.
The teen, Quajuan Smalls, told the police he’d tried to punch his father twice during the argument, which is when the elder Smalls allegedly pulled out a pistol and fired a single shot, according to the criminal complaint.
The 17-year-old was taken to Elmhurst Hospital in stable condition, police said.
However, Robert Smalls claims the shooting was in self defense and that he mistook his son for an intruder.
The elder Smalls told police he was sleeping early Sunday when he thought he heard an intruder enter their home. He said he yelled out a couple of times: “Who is it?”
According to court papers, the father alleges that Quajuan approached him and reached into his pocket as if to pull out a weapon.
Smalls is facing charges of assault in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon, police said.
