In a tragic end to what neighbors described as a years-long period of harassment, 45-year-old Joseph Stepinski, a male, was fatally shot in front of his Greenpoint, Brooklyn apartment building at 185 Greenpoint Ave. The incident, which occurred on March 6, 2017, culminated in the death of Stepinski four days later at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue.
His neighbor, 51-year-old retired NYPD officer Gene Barrett, was arrested and charged in connection with the shooting.
The dispute between the two men had been ongoing, with Barrett, a resident of the building for about 25 years, reportedly being a problematic tenant. The victim's girlfriend was the building manager, and there had been numerous complaints filed against Barrett, including some involving Stepinski. Neighbors recounted a history of terrorizing behavior from Barrett, who they said would often flash his gun and make threats. Despite Stepinski's efforts to remain cordial and non-confrontational, the situation escalated. The couple had even been making plans to move upstate to escape the tense living situation.
On the afternoon of the shooting, at approximately 2:30 p.m., Barrett shot Stepinski in the head at point-blank range. Witnesses watched as Barrett then went through Stepinski's pockets before retreating into the building. When police arrived, they saw Barrett through a first-floor window holding a gun, at which point he stated, 'it was me, it was me.' This initiated an hour-long standoff with law enforcement before he eventually surrendered.
Following the shooting, Gene Barrett was taken into custody and initially charged with attempted murder, assault, robbery, menacing, and burglary. After Stepinski's death, prosecutors announced their intention to upgrade the charges, and Barrett was subsequently charged with second-degree murder, to which he pleaded not guilty. Barrett was held without bail at Rikers Island. During the standoff, it was reported that Barrett mentioned his brother was a sergeant on the police force. In an interview from Rikers Island, Barrett claimed that his neighbors, including Stepinski, were conspiring to get him evicted from his rent-stabilized apartment.
