Ex-Cop Accused of Killing Neighbor Expected To Plead Guilty: Report

GREENPOINT, BROOKLYN — A retired police officer who allegedly murdered his neighbor, then confessed to a police officer during an armed standoff, might plead guilty to charges brought against him, his lawyer told DNAinfo New York on Friday.

Gene Barrett, 51, stands accused of shooting window-washer Joseph Stepinski, 45, with a silver firearm outside their apartment building at 185 Greenpoint Ave. the afternoon of March 6.

Barrett then locked himself in the building for the next two hours, threatened to shoot a police officer who tried to approach him and cried out “It was me!” from a first story window, prosecutors said.

Barrett’s attorney Arthur Aidala told DNAinfo that his client would receive a psychiatric evaluation before negotiating a plea deal.

“It's what we call an 'untryable' case," Aidala reportedly said. "It's not a case that's going for a trial."

Neighbors said Barrett had “real anger issues,” had been terrorizing his neighbors for more than a decade and was known to carry a gun.

Aidala told DNAinfo that Doctor Alexander Bardey of Fifth Avenue Forensics will examine Barrett and make a psychiatric diagnosis.

Barrett has been charged with murder and menacing of a police officer and his next court date is July 26, court records show.

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