(Gregory P. Mango)
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The suspected gangbanger who allegedly ordered a hit on a top Brooklyn cop through Facebook turned himself in to police last night, law-enforcement sources told The Post.
Teen Jonathan Thompson — whose alleged deadly online plot against NYPD Deputy Inspector Joseph Gulotta was first revealed in yesterday’s Post — walked into the 73rd Precinct station house in Brownsville around 7 p.m. with his lawyer, mother and a Manhattan clergyman, sources said.
Gulotta, who heads the precinct and has used social media to root out thugs such as Thompson, wasn’t there at the time.
Thompson, 19, had allegedly used the precinct’s own Facebook page to order Gulotta’s murder, describing the decorated cop’s car and the times of day he reports to and leaves from work.
Thompson, who also goes by the last name Benzino, was charged with making a terrorist threat and aggravated harassment as a hate crime, sources said.
The suspect is a reputed member of the bloodthirsty Brooklyn gang the Hood Stars, whose feud with rival group the Wave Gang has terrorized crime-ridden Brownsville and East New York for months, one source said.
Thompson has been busted at least three times since 2010 for everything from menacing to pot possession, criminal trespassing and disorderly conduct, authorities said. Thompson didn’t make any statements when he turned himself in, sources said. Cops led him to his arraignment last night.
His lawyer, Philip Lights, e-mailed The Post “a general denial of all charges against my client,’’ adding that Thompson was the victim of “a classic case of rush to judgement.’’
The Rev. Vernon Williams, who drove Thompson to the station house, said he had never met the teen before last night.
“I don’t know him or the family,’’ Williams said. “But I received two anonymous phone calls requesting my assistance, and I’m honored that they thought to call me.
“I picked him up from an undisclosed location and took him and met with his lawyer and his mother’’ at the police station.
Thompson “was calm until we got to the precinct,’’ Williams said. “Then when he saw a couple officers he knew, he was definitely shaken at that point.
“I spoke with the lead detective at the precinct, letting him know whatever history [with the cops that Thompson] may have felt uncomfortable with.’’
Williams said he and Thompson “actually spent a little time before [his arrest] . . . talking and praying.’’ Asked whether he believed the allegations against the teen, the reverend responded, “I have no way of knowing.’’
Additional reporting by Kate Sheehy and Kevin Sheehan