Indictment in Christmas Shooting at Mount Vernon Nightclub

MOUNT VERNON, NY — A Bronx resident was indicted Thursday in a Mount Vernon Christmas party shooting that caused the death of one person and seriously injured five more.

Errol Hillary, 40, was arraigned on an indictment today before Judge Barry Warhit and charged with:

• one count of Murder in the Second Degree, a class “A-1” Felony,
• five counts of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, class “B” Felonies,
• four counts of Assault in the First Degree, class “B” Felonies,
• one count of Assault in the Second Degree, a class “B” Felony,
• one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class “C” Felony

Police say Hillary entered The Mansion, a nightclub on North 3rd Street, at about 2:50 a.m. Dec. 25.

While there, he became agitated and began to cause a disturbance, Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. alleged. Asked to leave, Hillary began to fight with two members of the security team. Security attempted to remove him by dragging him to the front door.

O’Neil Bandoo, the owner of the club, was standing outside with another man, a friend of Hillary's, when they heard the commotion. The two men entered the club and asked Hillary to comply with security and leave.

That is when Hillary walked towards the front door of the club, pulled out a 9mm firearm and began shooting back into the hallway from the threshold of the door, Scarpino said.

Prosecutors allege that Hillary shot Bandoo once in the chest, killing him. He is also accused of shooting and seriously wounding five others who were in the hallway at the time, some of whom suffered multiple gun shot wounds.

Hillary tried to run away but was tackled to the ground in front of the club. During the struggle, he dropped his gun. He nearly broke free at one point, and two other members of the club’s security detail tackled him, preventing him from grabbing the gun back, according to the indictment.

Finally he managed to break free and run. He was chased and caught by Mount Vernon police officers.

Hillary, 40, was out on bail from an attempted murder charge in the Bronx.

"Mr. Bandoo was a good man who was dedicated to uplifting and serving the people of Mount Vernon," Mayor Richard Thomas said on Christmas Day.

Hillary entered a plea of not guilty. He remains in jail; his next court date is Feb. 28.

He faces 25 years to life in state prison on the Second Degree Murder charge and 25 on each of the Attempted Murder and Assault in the First Degree charges. He faces 15 years for Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Lana Hochheiser, Deputy Chief, Career Criminal Bureau.