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Tony Orlando Saez, of Yonkers, was arrested following the 4 a.m. shooting on Sunday, Nov. 17 at the Eclipse Bar on Riverdale Avenue, said Yonkers Police Det. Lt. Dean Politopoulos.
According to Politopoulos, members of the Yonkers Police 3rd Precinct were at the station house at 435 Riverdale Ave., when they became aware of a commotion outside at the Eclipse Bar.
As an officer approached, Saez, allegedly displayed a handgun and fired two shots into the bar, striking the front door area.
Police immediately ran towards the shooting scene as Saez entered the passenger seat in a waiting black Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck and fled the area.
Yonkers Police gave chase, and a police pursuit ensued with multiple police units chasing the vehicle through numerous roadways, including a wrong-way street.
Politopoulos said the vehicle continued at "unreasonable and dangerous speeds" continuing into the Bronx on the Saw Mill and Mosholu parkways, before making its way back into Yonkers from Broadway, and ultimately crashing at the intersection of South Broadway and Lawrence Street.
Upon crashing, both occupants attempted to flee on foot; the passenger, identified as the shooter, was apprehended by patrol units a short distance away.
Investigators are actively working to identify and apprehend the driver of the vehicle, Politopoulos said.
An investigation into the event found that Saez was originally inside the bar where a dispute ultimately escalated into violence resulting in the shots fired incident, Politopoulos said.
No bystanders were struck by the gunfire and no injuries were reported.
Investigators did recover surveillance video, and the handgun allegedly used in the shooting was also recovered – a loaded .32 caliber Taurus model 74 revolver reported stolen out of South Carolina, he added.
“I am immensely proud and grateful for the work our police officers do every day, in this case running towards gunfire and danger in order to apprehend a violent individual and remove an illegal handgun from our community," said Commissioner John J. Mueller. "Yonkers is safer today because of their efforts.”
Saez was charged with attempted assault and criminal possession of a weapon.
He was scheduled to be arraigned on Monday, Nov. 18.
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