Man Shot by Bloomberg Off-Duty Top-Cop Arrested in Queens

By Alicia Cruz

Staff writer,  Queens Insider

The man who filed a $5 million lawsuit against Mayor Bloomberg after he was allegedly shot by an off-duty police officer assigned to the Mayor's security detail has found himself in trouble with the law.

Officers from the 106th Precinct in South Central Queens stopped Lepaul Gammons' truck and learned he had 10 outstanding warrants for his arrest, and that his driver's license had been suspended 113 times, the New York Post reported. The Post did not report why Gammons was pulled over.

The 39-year-old man was charged with reckless driving, possession of a forged instrument (license plates) and driving with a suspended license.

On Nov. 15, 2010 off-duty cop, Leopold McLean arrived at the Jamaica, Queens home of his girlfriend, Assia Winfield where he found Gammons in the home.  McLean,46, and Gammons became engrossed in a verbal altercation inside the apartment, then began arguing outside. Winfield had an order of protection against Gammons and reportedly asked McLean to come to the house in response to her ex, Gammons, coming over.

Gammons says he asked McLean if he was going to shoot, and McLean replied, "I got something for you." At that point, the off-duty cop pulled a black handgun and pointed it at Gammons who fled.

The 17-year NYPD veteran began chasing Gammon down 119th Street and fired a shot hitting the banished former lover in the buttocks. A wounded and bleeding Gammons ran, hopped a fence and cowered behind a wall.

Following the shooting, McLean dialed 911 and told responding officers there was a break-in at Winfield's home, but failed to tell the officers about the shooting. Officials only became aware of the buttock-shooting after Gammons filed a complaint with the Civilian Complaint Review Board.

Security camera footage, and bullet fragments in a fencepost sealed the top-cop's fate when ballistics matched them to McLean's Kahr 9mm Luger. The officer was arrested and charged with assault in the first-degree, criminal use of a firearm, reckless endangerment and second-degree attempted murder. He posted a $25,000 bond, but lost his badge and gun and was placed on modified duty. His first court appearance was January 5.

Sanford Rubenstein, the attorney representing Gammons in his lawsuit said McLean’s behavior raises questions about his fitness for the force.

“Did the Police Department properly investigate this officer’s background and did they do an appropriate psychological evaluation of him?”

The questions seem appropriate considering the November 15, 2010 incident was not the first time Gammons claims McLean abused his status as a cop to abuse him. On Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2007,  Gammons claims Detective McLean drew a handgun while, again, off duty and told him “he didn’t have a problem with shooting me.” 

Gammons says he called 911 to report the incident, but police ended up arresting hims for harassing versus McLean. An NYPD police spokesman said the Internal Affairs Bureau looked into the claim and concluded the allegation was unsubstantiated.

McLean, who was off-duty at the time of the November shooting, maintains he shot Gammons in self defense, but forensics showed that Gammons was most likely running away from McLean when he was shot.

If convicted of the charges, McLean faces up to 25 years in prison.