Nassau Man Sentenced For Shooting At Repair Shop Where He Worked

A former Valley Stream mechanic was sentenced to 10 years in prison and four years of post-release supervision for a 2016 incident in which he fired a gun into the car repair shop where he used to work.

Christopher Hicks, 33, was convicted on Sept. 28 of attempted first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, first-degree reckless endangerment and two counts of second-degree criminal mischief.

"This defendant could have killed any of the innocent people in that auto repair shop when he shot at former coworkers in a fit of rage following his termination," said Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas. "It is a miracle that no one was killed in this shooting spree and I am grateful to the Nassau police and our prosecutors for ensuring that this predator will be held accountable."

On Aug. 15, 2016, Hicks was fired from his place of employment, County Truck and Auto, an auto repair shop in Valley Stream. He had been employed by the shop for only three and a half weeks. As he left the shop, he smashed a muffler through the back of a customer’s car window. Hicks left the shop and returned later in his car with a loaded .380 handgun and fired it three to four times into the bays of the shop where employees were working.

No one was injured, but one of the shots just missed striking an employee. Hicks was arrested by members of the NCPD a half hour later at his home in Valley Stream.

Photo: Nassau County District Attorney's Office