TWO MEN INDICTED FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER OF NYPD OFFICER VICIOUSLY BEATEN DURING ROBBERY

Defendants Assaulted Uniformed Cop Who Was Between Shifts; Father of One Defendant Charged with Using His Stolen Credit Card 

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that two men have been indicted for Attempted Murder in the first degree and other related charges in the brutal assault of an off-duty rookie NYPD police officer as they robbed him and stole his service firearm over Memorial Day Weekend. 

District Attorney Clark said, “The defendants allegedly approached the victim to rob him, pushed him to the ground, and when they saw his uniform, they allegedly punched him and stomped on his head. The officer suffered head trauma, fractures to his left orbital bone and right cheekbone, and his face bore a sneaker print—evidence of the defendants’ blatant disregard for a human being.” 

District Attorney Clark said the defendants, Taveon Hargrove, 23, of Seward Avenue, the Bronx, and Wayne Lucas, 23, of Cochise Trail North, Chesterfield, Virginia, were indicted on two counts of Attempted Murder in the first degree, Attempted Murder in the second degree, four counts of first-degree Robbery, two counts of second-degree Robbery, third-degree Robbery, three counts of first-degree Assault, four counts of second-degree Assault, Aggravated Assault Upon a Police Officer, Assault on a Peace Officer, Police Officer, Fireman or EMS Professional, second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Six counts of fourth-degree Grand Larceny, five counts of Criminal Possession of fourth-degree Possession of Stolen Property. Hargrove’s father, Jeffery Hargrove, was indicted for one count of fourthdegree Possession of Stolen Property and two counts of Petit Larceny.

Lucas was arraigned today by Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas and remanded. Hargrove is in custody in Virginia, where he is fighting extradition to New York.

According to the investigation, on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at approximately 4:10 a.m., Police Officer Chowdhury Nafees, 27, a member of the NYPD since September 2024, was between shifts for the holiday weekend and was walking on St. Peter’s Avenue in Westchester Square when Hargrove and Lucas allegedly approached him, put a knife to his neck and pushed him to the ground. They allegedly stole his wallet containing his credit cards, personal cell phone, Department issued cell phone, and Glock 19 9mm service pistol.

Before fleeing, the suspects allegedly punched Nafees multiple times in the face and Hargrove stomped on his head, slamming it into the ground. The attack was captured on video. Nafees suffered head trauma, fractures to his left orbital bone and right cheekbone. He was taken to NYC Health +Hospitals Jacobi where he underwent treatment for four days. The defendants fled to Virginia, where Hargrove was arrested on May 27, 2025, and Lucas was arrested on May 28, 2025.

District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detective Sean Liscoe of the 45th Precinct Detective Squad, and NYPD Detective Joseph Rivera, of the Regional Fugitive Task Force for their work in the investigation.  

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.