Cops: Bloods thug fired at off-duty cop for walking dog in neighborhood

BY TANANGACHI MFUNI, CAITLIN MILLAT and ALISON GENDAR
DAILY NEWS WRITERS

Saturday, May 10th 2008, 4:00 AM

Costanza for News

Suspect Michael Williams is escorted by police and the handgun (below) he allegedly fired.

The off-duty Bronx cop grazed in the scalp Friday was shot by a Bloods gangster enraged that the officer was walking a dog through the gunman's drug turf, police said.

Officer Antwane Reeves, 42, had been walking his mastiff, Braxton, in Wakefield when he passed Michael Williams hanging out, police said.

Williams apparently didn't like the look of Reeves and told the 10-year NYPD veteran and former correction officer to get off his E. 233rd St. turf, a police source said.

When Reeves retorted that it was a free country and he could walk where he liked, Williams, 26, went into a nearby building, came out with a 9-mm. Taurus handgun and started shooting, police said.

Reeves, who is assigned to the 48th Precinct, returned fire as Williams fled, cops said.

"I heard the shots, between eight and 12 shots," a 51-year-old neighbor who gave his name only as Angel said of the 12:30 a.m. gunfight.

"I came out and I saw this guy and a beautiful dog. He was on the cell phone. I think he was talking to the 911 operator. He said, 'Shots fired! Shots fired!'" Angel said.

Only when Reeves touched his scalp did he realize he had been hit, Angel said. The officer was treated at Jacobi Medical Center and released hours later.

Reeves' 18-year-old son, Francoise, said he knew how lucky his father was to be alive.

"I'm happy he's okay," the son said with tears in his eyes.

"I don't think he would fire his weapon for no reason," said the cop's mother-in-law, Brenette McPherson.

After spraying the block with bullets, Williams ditched his gun and red jacket in a Crown Fried Chicken joint on White Plains Road, police said. Cops caught Williams hiding in his mother's apartment on E. 235th St.

"He threatened my life," Williams said as he was led out of the 47th Precinct stationhouse in handcuffs.

Williams was hit with attempted murder, assault and weapons charges. He had pleaded guilty April 9 to drug possession and had completed three days of a four-day community service sentence.

tmfuni@nydailynews.com