Photo: simpson33 / iStock / Getty Images
Hector Gomez, a 41-year-old man from Schenectady, pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal possession of a weapon after a February incident at the Washington Tavern in Albany. On February 8, Gomez reportedly got into a verbal altercation with patrons at the bar, which escalated into a physical confrontation. During the incident, he brandished a loaded 9mm handgun, pressed it against a woman's head, and threatened to harm everyone present, according to the Albany County District Attorney's Office.
After leaving the bar, Gomez fired two rounds into the ground before fleeing the scene. He turned himself in to Albany Police on February 17. Initially, Gomez faced a six-count indictment, including charges of second-degree kidnapping and first-degree unlawful imprisonment. However, he pleaded guilty to the weapon possession charge and now faces an eight-to-12-year prison sentence.
Gomez is scheduled for sentencing on January 2. The case is being prosecuted by Joseph Brucato, Assistant District Attorney and Bureau Chief of the Major Crimes Unit. According to NEWS10, Gomez's actions have drawn significant attention due to the violent nature of the threats and the potential for harm in a public setting.