FBI Agent's Shooter Charged With Attempted Murder, Feds Say

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK -- A Crips gang member has been charged with shooting an on-duty FBI agent in Brooklyn on Saturday, prosecutors said.

Ronell Watson, 31, was arraigned Monday on attempted murder charges for shooting the special agent on the corner of Canarsie Road and Avenue N, according to Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

Molissa Gangapersad, Waton's 30-year-old housemate, also faces criminal charges after she told federal investigators she hadn't witnessed the shooting from her front porch, which prosecutors allege is a false statement.

Watson allegedly drove his car the wrong way up Canarsie Road at about 3:30 p.m, then swerved in front of the FBI agent's parked car, hopped out and began reaching for something in his hoodie's front pocket, said prosecutors.

The FBI agent tried to drive away but Watson pulled out a gun and shot him once in the shoulder, said prosecutors, at which point the agent jumped out of his car and shot Watson in the hand.

Watson dived back into his car, drove to a nearby auto body shop where he ditched his ride, then headed toward Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center where he said he'd been hit by a stray bullet, according to prosecutors.

A hospital employee overheard Watson make a call to demand a woman go to his house and “get the jewelry and get rid of it,” prosecutors said.

Investigators arrested Watson and Gangapersad Saturday evening, after they found about 1.5 pounds of marijuana, $15,000 in cash and a large amount of jewelry inside their home, according to prosecutors.

Gangapersad at first told investigators she had not seen the shooting, but changed her story when shown surveillance footage of her standing on her front porch during the crime, said prosecutors.

Watson and Gangapersad were arraigned in Brooklyn Federal Court Monday, Watson was held without bail and Gangapersad was released on a $500,000 bond, prosecutors said.

Watson could face a life sentence if convicted and Gangapersad could serve up to five years in jail, said prosecutors.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock