Police officers packed a Queens courtroom this morning to watch the arraignment of an accused trigger-happy cop shooter.
John F. Thomas was remanded by a Queens judge for shooting Sgt. Craig Bier four times in the legs and in a separate incident where he shot Troy Cox 17 times in the buttocks and legs.
On Aug. 9, Bier, 44, was on patrol as a part of the anti-gang unit when he approached Thomas near the intersection of 107th Avenue and Union Hall Street when the alleged shooter ran away and fired at the officer.
The 24-year-old was charged with first-degree attempted murder, aggravated assault upon a police officer, assault on a police officer, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree assault.
Thomas faces life in prison.
Prosecutors revealed that Thomas was hit with a second attempted murder charge for shooting 17 shots at Cox on June 6 near 11th Avenue and 167th Street.
Cox identified Thomas as his assailant from a jail cell at Rikers Island Correctional Facility after he was busted on July 28 moments before he went through with plans to “plant” a 40 caliber pistol at “the guy who shot me cousin’s house,” according to court documents.
“You guys may have saved my life because I was going to do something stupid,” said Cox, who is held on $50,000 cash bail, to police when he was arrested for the weapons charge.
A few of Thomas’ friends and relatives walked out of court in disbelief.
“I can’t believe this,” said one friend who didn’t want to be identified.
Thomas is expected back in court on Thursday where prosecutors will present both cases to the grand jury.