In a joint effort by the Glen Cove and Nassau County Police Departments, three arrests were made on June 2 in connection with the May 11 shooting death of Glen Cove resident Jabbar McBride on Glen Cove Avenue, Glen Cove.

According to Det. Sgt. Tom Fitzpatrick, none of the three men arrested are residents of Glen Cove. Sgt. Fitzpatrick said, "Milton Rivas, a 20-year-old El Salvadorian native recently residing in Uniondale was arrested and charged with second degree murder for firing the single .25 caliber shot that struck McBride in the chest and caused his death. Two Roosevelt residents, Juan Perez and Franklin Moronta, both 17 years old, were charged with gang assault first degree for being part of the group that attacked the victim and his friends."

The sergeant went on to say that on the night of May 11, three carloads of Hispanic males, now believed to be members of the MS-13 street gang, drove to Glen Cove, by random chance, and pulled up in front of 135 Glen Cove Avenue with the intention of beating up rival gang members. In what police believe was a case of mistaken identity, the twelve or so men jumped out of their cars carrying clubs, bats and at least one gun, and attacked a group of African American men standing in front of the strip mall. Sgt. Fitzpatrick said that Mr. McBride was shot one time in the chest while running away from his attackers. The gang then got back into their cars and fled the scene. Mr. McBride was pronounced dead at North Shore Hospital at Manhasset later that night. "Mr. McBride had no known gang affiliation," said the sergeant.

A team of detectives was immediately put together and assigned to the case. Sgt. Fitzpatrick stated, "Glen Cove Police Detective Steve Vetrone and other Glen Cove detectives worked the case with Nassau's Homicide and 2nd Squad. They literally worked night and day from the time this happened to try and painstakingly piece together the events of that evening."

By June 2, said Sgt. Fitzpatrick, police had compiled enough evidence for teams of officers to swoop down on the three suspects in different locations in Roosevelt and Uniondale, taking them into custody without incident. All were arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead on June 3.

Sgt. Fitzpatrick noted that the investigation into the homicide is still open and ongoing.