Illegal Dice Game Led To Gunfire, City Worker Arrested: Police

MOUNT VERNON, NY — A Mount Vernon Public Works employee and another man were arrested in connection with a shooting over the weekend, according to police.

Detectives from the Mount Vernon Police Department arrested two Mount Vernon men as part of the shots fired investigation. Hector Ruiz, 42, an employee of the City of Mount Vernon Department of Public Works, was arrested on Tuesday afternoon. Rashean Burgess, 45, also of Mount Vernon, was arrested later that same day.

The investigation started when Mount Vernon police were notified of a shot being fired in the area of South 8th Avenue and West 5th Street around 2:15 a.m. on Saturday. Officers found one spent shell casing at the scene, but no witnesses to the incident. Only through reviewing security video from the area were detectives able to identify the suspects believed to be involved in the shooting.

Investigators said it appears that the shooting stemmed from an argument during an illegal dice game. No one was shot during this incident and no property damage was reported.

Police said Rashean Burgess has a lengthy criminal record. (MVPD)

Burgess was charged with felony criminal possession of a weapon and felony criminal possession of a controlled substance. Police said he has an extensive criminal history that includes previous arrests for robbery, weapons possession and narcotics possession. Ruiz was charged with criminal possession of a weapon. He also has a criminal history which includes prior arrests for weapons possession, authorities said.