NYPD: Queens man who shot and killed alleged attacker stockpiled dozens of illegal guns

By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Jun 2, 2023 at 7:27 a.m.

A man accused of shooting and killing an alleged mugger in Queens is facing more than two dozen charges for stockpiling illegal guns, police said Friday. ... The NYPD found a total of 32 guns in Charles Foehner’s Kew Gardens apartment, some of which were licensed, according to police, but many of which were not. A department official said they were mostly long guns, such as rifles. His arraignment on 26 counts of criminal weapons possession is pending in Queens Criminal Court. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz's office has not returned multiple requests for comment.

Foehner, 65, was returning home to his building on 82nd Ave around 2 a.m. Wednesday morning when officials said he was approached by 32-year-old Cody Gonzalez. Police said Gonzalez was wielding a sharp object and demanding cash and cigarettes. Moments later, Foehner allegedly fired several rounds at Gonzalez, striking him in the chest and killing him at the scene.

Surveillance footage obtained by PIX 11 shows the two men appearing to exchange words as Gonzalez bobs and weaves towards Foehner, who backs up towards the building’s garage. ... Moments later, off camera, Foehner fires his gun at Gonzalez.

“He had the gun in his hand, gave him ample time to retreat, go the other way, and the guy was just not budging,” the superintendent of the building where Foehner lives told Gothamist after viewing the surveillance video. He did not want to provide his name due to the ongoing investigation. “The guy ran the other way, and he collapsed in the middle of our driveway.”

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