When Jennifer Lackard was appointed deputy commissioner of public safety for the city of Mount Vernon in 2020, her portfolio centered on community outreach, wellness, and police reform. Today, the former official finds herself navigating the criminal justice system from the other side of the courtroom, facing felony charges for allegedly acting as the getaway driver in a broad-daylight gang shooting involving her 20-year-old son, Chase Lackard.
The June 29 Courthouse Shooting and the Indictment Details
The case unfolded on June 29 outside the Bronx County Courthouse, where Chase Lackard had appeared earlier that day to face a prior gun charge, according to court documents cited by CBS News. Prosecutors state that Jennifer Lackard and her husband, James, drove their son to the Grand Concourse to coordinate the attack on a rival gang member.
According to the indictment outlined by NBC 4 New York, mother and son exchanged text messages immediately before the violence erupted. Chase allegedly wrote, “Be directly in front when I leave.” Jennifer Lackard reportedly replied, “When? You’ve can’t just stand out front. The timing has to be right.” Moments later, witnesses and investigators say Chase—wearing a black mask—rolled down the backseat window of a tan Chrysler Pacifica and opened fire into a crowd before his mother allegedly sped away from the scene.
Authorities reported that no injuries resulted from the gunfire. Following the incident, investigators say Lackard drove the family to the Soundview section of the Bronx, roughly five miles southeast of the courthouse, where her son allegedly changed his clothes inside a building on Boynton Avenue. Court documents indicate that the parents then abandoned the Chrysler and walked toward a waiting black SUV.
A Sudden Arrest and Immediate Termination
The investigation culminated early Tuesday morning when law enforcement arrested Jennifer Lackard at her home. Hours after the arrest, the Mount Vernon Police Department announced her immediate termination, cutting ties with an administrator who had served two terms on Bronx Community Board 9 and spent decades working on community health and outreach initiatives.
During her arraignment, Lackard pleaded not guilty to charges including attempted murder, attempted assault, criminal possession of a firearm, conspiracy, and reckless endangerment. A judge set her bail at $75,000 cash, and she is scheduled to return to court in September. Her defense attorney defended her professional record during the hearing, noting, according to ABC 7 New York, that “Ms. Lackard has, for 20 years, dedicated her professional life to the health and healing of impacted communities.”
The Wider Legal Web Surrounding Chase Lackard
Co-defendant Chase Lackard remains held without bail and faces a litany of charges, including attempted murder, attempted assault, six counts of weapons possession, conspiracy, and reckless endangerment. Described by authorities as a member of the “Slutty Gang,” Chase has a documented history of violent encounters with law enforcement.
According to Fox News and The Guardian, Chase was previously shot twice in the leg by police after pointing a 9mm pistol at officers. In a separate 2023 incident, he was shot in the chest after demanding to know the gang affiliation of three boys and attempting to drag one of them off a bus. A 14-year-old rival gang member was subsequently charged with attempted murder in connection with that shooting.
Meanwhile, James Lackard—Chase’s father—was also named in the indictment for his alleged role in the June 29 conspiracy. However, authorities confirmed he was not in custody in New York at the time of Jennifer and Chase’s arrests. Chase’s next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 25.
Accountability and the Road Ahead
As prosecutors prepare their case for the fall court dates, the proceedings will test the strength of the evidence compiled from text message logs, surveillance footage, and witness testimony.
What drives a career public servant with decades of community involvement to allegedly participate in violent crime? Share your thoughts on this unfolding legal case in the comments below.
