staten island : Robbery attempt ends in gunplay in Mariners Harbor

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A Mariners Harbor man trying to take money from an acquaintance fired a bullet just a few inches away from the man, blasting a hole in a nearby window, police allege.

Police say Eric Hemphill, 20, of Holland Avenue confronted his victim in a 7th-floor hallway at 35 Holland Ave., part of the Arlington Terrace Apartments complex in Mariners Harbor, at about 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

“Give me my money,” Hemphill told the man, grabbing him, according to police. They struggled, and the victim broke free and ran off, but as he ran, “he did hear a shot behind him and observed a bullet hole in the window near where he was standing,” according to court papers.

Police arrested Hemphill on Friday, charging him with two counts of first-degree attempted robbery, first-and second-degree attempted assault, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and criminal trespass.

He’s being held on $15,500 cash or $30,500 bond, until his next appearance in Stapleton Criminal Court on Thursday.