Tuckahoe Man Indicted in Shooting of Medical School Dean

TUCKAHOE, NY — The man accused of shooting the dean of the school where he was a research assistant professor was indicted Tuesday.

Acting Westchester County District Attorney James A. McCarty said Hengjun Chao, 49, of Main Street in Tuckahoe, was charged with and pleaded not guilty to the following:

• Second-degree attempted murder, felony
• First-degree criminal use of a firearm, felony
• First-degree assault, felony

McCarty said Chao was parked in the Walgreen’s parking lot on King Street in Chappaqua on August 29, 2016, around 7:56 a.m.

He was waiting for Dr. Dennis Charney, dean of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, to exit Lange’s Deli, police said.

According to the authorities, when Charney exited the deli, Chao took a loaded shotgun from the trunk of his car and walked toward him.

Chao aimed and fired one shot, hitting Charney in the shoulder and chest area, police said.

Chao was arrested at the scene by New Castle Police.

Charney was taken to the hospital and remained there for five days.

Police said Chao told them he was the one who shot Charney.

Chao had been fired from the Icahn School of Medicine in May 2009 by a committee that included Charney.

Bail was set at $1 million.

Chao is due back in court Nov. 1.

He faces a maximum of 25 years in state prison.

Photo caption: Hengjun Chao. Photo credit: Westchester District Attorney's Office.