February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Newsday reported that Taquan Williams, 26, who is serving a three-year term for an unrelated gun offense, has admitted to killing McMahon, an official with New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection.
The shooting of McMahon came during what Williams claims was a botched robbery attempt shortly before dawn on Aug. 9, 2002.
McMahon, 46, a native of the Scotstown area of Co. Monaghan, was a night shift supervisor for the DEP’s Bureau of Water and Sewers.
On the night he died, McMahon had been on duty in the Long Island City section of Queens.
He was shot shortly after 5 a.m. on 40th St., close to its intersection with Northern Boulevard, an area dominated by car sales companies, parking lots and warehouses.
According to Newsday, Williams claimed during an interview given last month to investigating detectives that a gun went off while he was being handed the weapon by an accomplice.
The Queens District Attorney’s Office has yet to file any charges and a spokesman had no comment when contacted by the Echo.
However, the spokesman did not dispute the substance of the confession report.
According to what investigators already knew, and what Williams has reportedly added in his videotaped statement, McMahon was sitting in his official car when Williams, who had been out of prison for just a month, together with an accomplice, approached the vehicle and attempted to open the door.
McMahon apparently tried to fend off his assailants, and it was at this point that he was shot in the left side of the head.
Mortally wounded, McMahon hit the gas pedal only to have his car crash into a nearby warehouse.
The assailants then grabbed McMahon’s wallet and cell phone, and fled the scene.
McMahon died three days later at Elmhurst Hospital. Mayor Michael Bloomberg was at his bedside before he died and the city posted a reward for information leading to the arrest of the person, or persons, responsible for the shooting.
McMahon, who had become a U.S. citizen before he died, lived in Levittown, Long Island. He was married with three children.
A month prior to the shooting, Williams was released on parole after serving four years for stealing property and drug possession.
In late 2003, Williams was back in the penitentiary after being arrested for shooting his gun in the air.
Williams was not a prime suspect for detectives at the 114th Precinct, which is located on Astoria Blvd. But he broke open the case by claiming another man had shot McMahon, this perhaps in the hope of landing a deal that might mean early release.
The man named by Williams pointed the finger back to Williams. When questioned by detectives, Williams reportedly admitted to shooting McMahon.