Accused Green Acres Mall shooter charged with attempted murder
Nassau police investigate a shot fired at the Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream on Monday. Credit: Howard Schnapp
The suspect in the Green Acres Mall shooting earlier this week in Valley Stream was held without bail Friday after being charged with attempted murder, robbery and other crimes, police said.
Nassau County police said Nicholas Aaron Hibbert, 24, was arrested by Fifth Squad detectives and Bureau of Special Operations officers Thursday around 1:50 p.m. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in First District Court in Hempstead, court records show.
He was charged with second-degree attempted murder, first-degree robbery, two counts of second-degree possession of a weapon, second-degree criminal use of a firearm, third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, first-degree reckless endangerment, criminal possession of a firearm and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
Records show he was arraigned before Judge Jaclene Agazarian, who ordered him remanded to the Nassau County jail without bail. Records show Hibbert is due back in court on Tuesday.
It was not immediately clear if he was represented by counsel.
Hibbert had been the subject of a search since police said he fired a gun during a struggle with a security officer inside the Clique clothing store in Green Acres Mall late Monday morning, causing stores in the mall to go into a lockdown protocol and schools to institute lockout procedures.
Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said the incident occurred at 11:11 a.m. inside the second-floor clothing store. After discharging a weapon, the suspect, now identified as Hibbert, fled to a red SUV in the attached parking garage — wearing nothing but a red shirt, boxer shorts and one sneaker, police said. No one was struck by the discharged round.
The incident began when police said a security agent confronted Hibbert, who allegedly was attempting to shoplift items by layering clothing under his own clothes. When confronted, the suspect told the security agent he was armed, Ryder said, leading to a struggle into the main area of the mall, in which the gun was fired.
The suspect in the Green Acres Mall shooting earlier this week in Valley Stream was held without bail Friday after being charged with attempted murder, robbery and other crimes, police said.
Nassau County police said Nicholas Aaron Hibbert, 24, was arrested by Fifth Squad detectives and Bureau of Special Operations officers Thursday around 1:50 p.m. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in First District Court in Hempstead, court records show.
He was charged with second-degree attempted murder, first-degree robbery, two counts of second-degree possession of a weapon, second-degree criminal use of a firearm, third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, first-degree reckless endangerment, criminal possession of a firearm and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
Records show he was arraigned before Judge Jaclene Agazarian, who ordered him remanded to the Nassau County jail without bail. Records show Hibbert is due back in court on Tuesday.
It was not immediately clear if he was represented by counsel.
Hibbert had been the subject of a search since police said he fired a gun during a struggle with a security officer inside the Clique clothing store in Green Acres Mall late Monday morning, causing stores in the mall to go into a lockdown protocol and schools to institute lockout procedures.
Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said the incident occurred at 11:11 a.m. inside the second-floor clothing store. After discharging a weapon, the suspect, now identified as Hibbert, fled to a red SUV in the attached parking garage — wearing nothing but a red shirt, boxer shorts and one sneaker, police said. No one was struck by the discharged round.
The incident began when police said a security agent confronted Hibbert, who allegedly was attempting to shoplift items by layering clothing under his own clothes. When confronted, the suspect told the security agent he was armed, Ryder said, leading to a struggle into the main area of the mall, in which the gun was fired.
John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”
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Newsday Live Music Series: Long Island Idols Newsday Live presents a special evening of music and conversation with local singers who grabbed the national spotlight on shows like "The Voice," "America's Got Talent,""The X-Factor" and "American Idol." Newsday Senior Lifestyle Host Elisa DiStefano leads a discussion and audience Q&A as the singers discuss their TV experiences, careers and perform original songs.
