A former Mount Vernon police official is facing attempted murder and conspiracy charges in connection with a Bronx shooting that investigators say occurred near the Bronx Criminal Courthouse on June 29.
The allegations involve Jennifer Lackard, the city’s former Deputy Commissioner of Wellness, and her 20-year-old son, Chase Lackard, whose name has appeared in multiple New York gun cases and gang-related incidents over the past several years.
News of the arrests was first reported by the New York Post and later confirmed by ABC7 New York, CBS New York, and other local outlets. Those reports identified Jennifer Lackard as the alleged getaway driver after the shooting.
Now both mother and son are facing serious criminal charges, placing a longtime law-enforcement official on the opposite side of the justice system she once served.
Mount Vernon Confirms Charges And Terminates Lackard
The Mount Vernon Police Department issued an official statement acknowledging that the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office had filed criminal charges against Lackard and announcing that the city had terminated her employment effective immediately.
“Effective immediately, the City of Mount Vernon has terminated Jennifer Lackard’s employment,” the department said.
The statement identified Lackard as the former Deputy Commissioner of Wellness. CBS New York placed that position within the department’s Community Affairs Division.
Mount Vernon said the allegations were unrelated to Lackard’s official duties and did not involve conduct associated with the department or the performance of her responsibilities. The department also said its Wellness Unit would continue providing services to officers, civilian employees, their families, and members of the community.
Because the case is being prosecuted by the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office, the department said it would not comment on the underlying allegations.
Court Records Detail 14 Charges And Bail
Court records reviewed by Guessing Headlights show that Jennifer Lackard was arrested by the NYPD on Aug. 4 and arraigned in Bronx Supreme Criminal Court before Judge Laurence E. Busching.
The case contains 14 counts, with attempted murder listed as the top charge. The remaining counts include second- and fourth-degree conspiracy, first- and second-degree criminal use of a firearm, multiple criminal possession of a weapon charges, three attempted assault counts, and first- and second-degree reckless endangerment.
Lackard pleaded not guilty during the arraignment.
The court set bail at $75,000 cash, a $150,000 insured bond, or a $150,000 partially secured surety bond. The available court record confirms that bail was set but does not establish whether Lackard posted bail or was released.
Her next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 25 for a certificate of compliance proceeding.
According to CBS New York, NYPD officers initially responded to a shots-fired call outside the Bronx courthouse shortly before midnight on June 29. Police said a gunman opened fire toward a crowd before fleeing in a vehicle that headed north on East 163rd Street.
ABC7 New York added that investigators believe Chase Lackard was targeting a man associated with a rival gang. No one was struck by the gunfire.
The publicly available online court entries reviewed by Guessing Headlights do not explain the specific evidence investigators believe connects Jennifer Lackard to the shooting or establish whether police believe she was driving during the gunfire or arrived afterward.
Chase Lackard Was Already Facing Multiple Firearm Cases
Long before the June 29 shooting investigation, Chase Lackard’s name had appeared in New York court records and local news coverage involving firearms, gang allegations, and violent encounters.
The New York Daily News and ABC7 New York have identified Lackard as a reputed member of the “Slutty Gang,” a Bronx group connected in local reporting to ongoing neighborhood gang tensions.
Court records reviewed by Guessing Headlights show that Chase Lackard remains a defendant in a separate Manhattan firearm case stemming from an Aug. 13, 2024 arrest.
In that case, prosecutors charged him with attempted criminal possession of a loaded firearm, attempted criminal possession of a defaced weapon, and attempted criminal possession of a firearm. He pleaded not guilty, and the case remains pending in New York Supreme Criminal Court. His next appearance is scheduled for Aug. 7.
Chase Lackard is also a defendant in a separate Bronx case stemming from a November 2024 encounter in which police said he pointed a loaded handgun at NYPD officers before being shot in the leg.
News 12 said investigators recovered a loaded 9mm pistol during that encounter.
Court records show prosecutors charged him with two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a loaded firearm, criminal possession of a firearm, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, two counts of second-degree menacing with a weapon, and two counts of possessing a weapon with intent to use it.
Lackard pleaded not guilty in that case, which remains pending in Bronx Supreme Criminal Court. His next appearance is scheduled for Sept. 15.
Earlier Gang-Related Shooting Drew Headlines
Chase Lackard was also shot in the chest on a BX5 bus in Soundview in 2023.
According to Daily Voice, police said the confrontation began after Lackard displayed gang signs, questioned several youths about their gang affiliation, and attempted to pull one of them from the bus. One of the youths then shot him in the chest.
The outlet said a 14-year-old boy was later charged in connection with the shooting.
That incident, the two pending firearm cases, and the November 2024 police shooting are separate from the charges arising from the June 29 courthouse shooting. However, the documented history provides context for reports that investigators believe the latest gunfire was connected to an ongoing gang dispute.
Residents React Online
The arrests quickly became a major topic of discussion on Mount Vernon social media pages, where many commenters expressed disbelief that a police department executive would face the same charges as her son.
Some residents argued that investigators likely possess substantial evidence if they were willing to arrest a high-ranking police official on attempted murder-related charges. Others urged caution, noting that the allegations have not yet been proven in court and questioning whether the full account of what happened has been made public.
Much of the discussion also focused on broader frustration with Mount Vernon’s city government. Some commenters pointed to what they described as a growing series of scandals involving city employees, while others called for city and police officials to provide more information about the allegations and the circumstances surrounding Lackard’s employment.
This is a developing story. Guessing Headlights will update this article as additional court records, charging documents, or statements from prosecutors become available.
Jennifer Lackard and Chase Lackard have pleaded not guilty in the court proceedings described above. Both are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Update: This article has been updated to include court records detailing the charges, Jennifer Lackard’s not-guilty plea, bail terms, and upcoming court dates, along with information about Chase Lackard’s pending firearm cases.