Video Of Restaurant Shooting, Suspect And Victim ID'd By Police

YONKERS, NY — A 29-year-old Peekskill man has been identified as the man Yonkers police believe opened fire on a crowded restaurant early Sunday morning killing an employee.

The suspect is identified as Yaquba Jaquan McGougain. He is charged with one count of murder, attempted murder and felony criminal possession of a weapon.

The victim killed in the shooting has been identified as Antonio Antoine-Filis. The 22-year-old resident of Montvale, New Jersey worked as a busser at the restaurant.

Authorities also released disturbing video of the shooting. The footage appears to show the suspect open fire at the front door of the Duo Tapas Lounge on Yonkers Avenue.

Police were called to the restaurant just after 2 a.m. on a report of a shooting with multiple victims. First responders found two gunshot victims at the scene. One victim was unresponsive and given CPR. Both men were rushed to the hospital where the unconscious victim died.

Investigators believe that the bar was hosting a party on the second floor that resulted in several fights between the attendees. Bar management stopped the party and was ushering the partygoers outside, some of whom were intoxicated and disorderly, according to police.

Investigators said that one of the members of the party went to a parked vehicle and retrieved a handgun and then fired at least three gunshots into the vestibule of the building, striking two employees: a bouncer and Antoine-Filis.

Both the employees were helping the party crowd outside of the restaurant. The bouncer, a 23-year-old resident of the Bronx, was struck one time in the stomach and was treated and released.

Antoine-Filis was struck twice, once in the torso and once in the hand. He later died from his injuries.

The suspected gunman was apprehended at the scene by patrol officers, Yonkers police officials said.

“In less than 72 hours our fantastic Yonkers Police investigators have filed murder charges against the alleged perpetrator of this senseless killing; but that is not enough to deliver justice to the victim’s family or other crime victims," Yonkers Police Commissioner John Mueller said. "We must ensure that those who commit crimes in our communities are held accountable for their actions and send an unequivocal message that criminal behavior will never be tolerated."

Detectives also recovered an illegally possessed Taurus 9mm semi-automatic pistol believed to be the murder weapon, police said. The handgun was purchased in North Carolina in 2018 and was not reported stolen.

"I extend my deepest sympathies to the family of the precious young life lost," Mayor Mike Spano said. “Working with our partners on the state level, we will ensure a fatal event like this never happens again and provide true justice for the family by continuing to fight to keep illegal guns off our streets and from the hands of violent criminals."

Hours earlier, Spano and other elected officials, citing previous complaints from neighbors, urged state officials to make sure the bar is never allowed to be reopened. Police officials said they are working with state authorities to suspend business operations at Duo Tapas Lounge and Bar.

McGougain was arraigned Tuesday in Yonkers Criminal Court and remanded to the Westchester County Jail pending his next court appearance on February 17.