Attempted-Murder Charges in Shooting of Retired Cop

By ALFRED BRANCH (Patch Staff)

Retired officer Peter Schmidt spied two men coming away from an empty house in his neighborhood.

When he intervened, he was shot twice.

The break-in and shooting occurred near 5 Payne St. in Elmsford at about 3:45 p.m. The two Elmsford men who allegedly shot Schmidt twice in the botched burglary have been charged with second degree Attempted Murder and Criminal Possession of a Weapon, both felonies, officials said.

Adam R. Larregue, 20, and Tarqiy A. Walton, 34, were apprehended on the Sprain Brook Parkway near the Cross County Parkway minutes after the Monday afternoon attack. Walton has been identified as the alleged shooter, but both remain in custody following their arraignment, and they are next scheduled to appear in court on July 21.

Schmidt, who was shot in the arm and the torso, was treated at Westchester County Medical Center and has since been released. He is resting at home.

His son, active Greenburgh Police Off. Peter Schmidt Jr., ran to the scene at the time of the shooting and is being credited with quickly being able to get a description of the car the two fled in and its license plate number.

“Defendant Walton has two prior felony arrests, two prior felony convictions, one for reckless endangerment in the first degree, and a violent felony of assault second degree,” Greenburgh Police Chief Chris McNerney told WCBS-TV.

In a statement, Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner praised the father and son. “Peter Schmidt, a retired Greenburgh police officer and his son deserve credit for confronting an armed burglar and for their excellent police work which resulted in the capture of the armed burglars.”

Schmidt, 55, retired from the force in 2005 after 22 years, according to reports. Feiner called him a “highly respected and well liked” member of the force.

Photo: Adam R. Larregue, left, and Taqiy A. Walton. Photo credit: Greenburgh Police Department.