By Madina Toure
A Jamaica Hills resident who was shot and killed in a police-involved shooting last week was an ex-Marine Corps infantryman with a history of arrests ranging from assault to criminal mischief.
Jonathan Efraim, 30, was shot and killed by two police officers after he fired a gun inside the Irish Hillside Inn on the corner of 168th Street and Hillside Avenue in Jamaica the night of April 22, according to the NYPD.
He served as a private, basic infantryman in the Marine Corps from March 2004 to March 2007, according to Yvonne Carlock, a Manpower and Reserve Affairs spokeswoman for the Marine Corps.
His decorations were the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. He did not have any deployments.
Efraim was tried in a special court martial June 29, 2006 and was found guilty of violating Article 86 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, or an unauthorized absence, Carlock said.
He was sentenced to confinement for 120 days, forfeiture of $700 pay per month for four months and was discharged from the Marine Corps for bad conduct.
Law enforcement sources said Efraim had multiple prior arrests, according to a police spokesman. Police gave his address as Jamaica Hills.
He was arrested twice in October 2010 for assaulting and harassing his ex-wife and again for contempt and mischief for violating the order of protection and kicking in her front door, according to the office of Richmond County District Attorney Daniel Donovan.
In July 2011, he was arrested for DWI, reckless driving and fleeing an officer after he was spotted doing more than 100 miles per hour on Forest and Richmond avenues, the office said. He refused to take a Breathalyzer test.
In April 2012, he was arrested when his friend’s car was pulled over on suspicion of DWI. He used racial epithets against a black police officer, according to the office. That same month, he was arrested for going on a joy ride inside a tow truck at the yard belonging to his former boss and trashing the place. He damaged 14 vehicles and stole $800 from the office.
He pleaded guilty in all the arrests.
He was also previously arrested for some simple assaults and a few criminal mischiefs in 2006, 2007 and 2008, according to Capt. Roy Hoppock of the Woodbridge Police Department in New Jersey.
In the latest episode, officers responded to a 911 call of shots fired inside the bar, according to police. When they arrived, they concluded that Efraim had discharged a loaded Glock 99 inside the establishment and fled northbound on 168th Street toward Highland Avenue.
After witnesses gave the police a description of the gunman, officers found him in the vicinity of 168th Street and Highland Avenue and shouted, “Police, don’t move!,” the authorities said.
After police pursued Efraim on foot toward 168th Place and Highland Avenue, he stopped, turned and fired on the officers, officials said.
“This guy just started shooting at the ceiling and then we were called,” a police source said. “We started chasing him and he started shooting at us.”
Efraim continued southbound on 168th Place toward Hillside Avenue, where he again stopped, turned and pointed his weapon in the officers’ direction a second time outside 87-43 168th Place.
Two uniformed officers then fired their guns five times in his direction, striking him in the torso.
Efraim was taken to Jamaica Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The two officers who fired their weapons were taken to North Shore Medical Center for treatment of tinnitus.
Efraim’s firearm was recovered at the scene.
Reach reporter Madina Toure by e-mail at mtour
