BROOKLYN, NY – A landlord from Brooklyn, identified as LaShawn Craig, is facing weapon charges following a heated episode that resulted in the fatal shooting of his tenant. Prosecutors and law enforcement sources reported that the tenant, Timothy Jones, broke into Craig’s Bedford-Stuyvesant apartment equipped with a Taser on Friday night leading to the shootout.
Craig, a 45-year-old MTA employee and military veteran, allegedly fired at Jones upon finding him inside his residence in disguise, with a mask and gloves and brandishing a Taser. Jones was told to leave the apartment, and upon reaching into his pockets, Craig fired his illegal handgun, a Smith and Wesson 40 caliber pistol. Craig dialed 911 post the incident and voluntarily handed over the firearm to the police.
Jones, a 64-year-old career criminal, and Craig, reportedly were arguing over family pictures prior to the violent turn of events. It is believed that Jones had yelled from within the house, asking for his photos. Jones, shot in the torso, succumbed to his injuries at Kings County Hospital Center.
Craig, who does not have any earlier criminal record, was arrested on Sunday. He was charged in Brooklyn Criminal Court on Monday with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon – one a felony and the other a misdemeanor – and with criminal possession of a firearm. He was released on supervised release, despite prosecutors seeking $50,000 bail.
Jones had over 20 previous arrests, mainly for narcotics and domestic violence, as well as an aggravated unlicensed operator charge. He had also been seriously wounded in a shooting incident inside his second-floor apartment in June 2022, which had resulted in the death of Briana Zaret, a 19-year-old who had visited the apartment to allegedly buy cocaine.