February 7, 2023
NEW YORK CITY—The African-American male suspect from Harlem who is accused of fatally shooting off-duty NYPD officer Adeed Fayaz was charged with murder on Tuesday, hours after the police officer was declared dead at the hospital.
Randy “Popper” Jones, 38, allegedly shot the 26-year-old father of two in the head during a botched robbery Saturday night after Fayaz and his brother-in-law arranged to purchase a Honda Pilot on Facebook Marketplace, according to the New York Post. The pair had $24,000 in cash on them at the time.
The 38-year-old suspect allegedly lured the pair down a dark alley and opened fire “almost immediately,” striking Fayaz once in the head. Fayaz’s brother-in-law then pulled the gun from the downed officer’s holster and returned fire.
Jones fled the scene and remained hidden until police tracked him down to a Rockland County hotel Monday and was taken into custody. Arresting officers used Fayaz’s handcuffs.
Authorities later located the getaway vehicle—a black BMW SUV registered to Jones’ mother—on 129th Street and Park Avenue in Harlem on Sunday and impounded it, reports The Post.
Jones has been charged with robbery and murder. He was let out of the 75th precinct Tuesday night in front of hundreds of police officers, many from the 66th precinct where Fayaz served.
One woman standing outside the precinct with two other individuals defiantly shouted “We love you, Randy!”
Jones responded: “I love you too.”
That quick exchange caused another person to scream “Cop killer!”
Detectives believe Jones may have been involved in a similar robbery last month. In that case, a suspect ambushed another man on January 13 under the guise of selling a car through Facebook Marketplace as well. The suspect pulled a gun and demanded the victim’s money—making off with $18,000.
Fayaz was pronounced dead at Brookdale Hospital at 3:25 p.m. Tuesday after being on life-support since the shooting. He was a five-year veteran with the NYPD.
Feature Screenshots via NYPD