With overflow parking spilling into the Yorktown United Methodist Church across the street, residents gathered on the steps of Yorktown Justice Court Tuesday evening, signs reading “Justice for Luke” held above the crowd as they came to support their homeless neighbor, Matt Steele, and mourn his 12-year-old dog, Luke, also known as “Snoopy,” who police say was shot and killed by former NYPD officer James Molloy.
Inside the courtroom, Judge Gary Raniolo presided over Molloy’s Aug. 11 appearance as residents gathered to watch the proceeding. The courtroom has a capacity of 143 people, with about 75 residents gathered outside and six rows of public seating filled. Security was tight; no photographs, video or audio were permitted. Phones were required to be turned off.
Molloy, 61, appeared wearing a navy suit and dark tie, with his white hair neatly groomed. The Legal Aid Society was initially assigned as his counsel before Robert Schechter of Tilem & Associates, P.C., was retained as his attorney. Schechter focuses his practice on gun rights, civil and criminal litigation, contract law and appeals, and has extensive experience helping clients navigate New York’s concealed-carry licensing process. He also handles criminal defense matters and appeals involving firearms.
Halston Media reached out to Schechter for comment.
Initial discovery was provided Tuesday morning.
Molloy’s case was the first on the court’s calendar, though several other matters were scheduled throughout the session. The case, People v. James Joseph Molloy, was adjourned to Tuesday, Oct. 13.
Outside the courthouse, residents spoke about the loss of Luke, their concerns about the shooting and their support for Steele.
Roger Seward came down from Stormville with his dog, Gunner, after he “heard that a retired law enforcement officer basically discharged his firearm on another citizen's animal.”
“As ex-military with a little bit of law enforcement background, I don't agree with what he did,” Seward said. “I understand that New York state has very strict pistol permit laws and very strict laws about discharging firearms. I don't think that this warranted a retired officer discharging his firearm in city limits.”
Seward said he understood that Molloy may have feared for his dog but believed the use of a firearm was excessive.
“That’s deadly force. That's a firearm,” he said. “That bullet doesn't just travel into that animal, but it has the potential to ricochet and cause secondary injuries that can be very serious. I don't agree with the use of force on this.”
Katonah resident Diane Anderson said she was “an enormous lover of dogs” who questioned why Malloy was armed in the first place.
“I resent the kind of mentality that compels a person to walk around with a loaded firearm while they're out in a peaceful neighborhood walking their dog,” Anderson said. “I walk my dog every day. I'd like to be safe. I'd like my family to be safe. I don't have the privilege to carry a firearm and those who do, with great privilege comes great responsibility to use good judgment and to use your firearm wisely.”
Yorktown resident Jonathan Nettelfield said as both a dog owner and person involved in “a lot of therapy dog work” he believed “in dogs as being something to enhance human beings [and] came to show my support.”
Giulio Eliseo, accompanied by his enormous “lapdog” Gabriel, said he’s lived in Yorktown for 35 years, has had dogs all his life, and was skeptical of the idea that Luke attacked Malloy’s dog. He also said some descriptions of Matt painted a false picture.
"When a dog is vicious, a homeless person will not have a vicious animal,” he said. “And let's clarify, can we clarify something else? I've heard that Matthew was a ‘vagrant.’”
“There's a difference between being a vagrant and being homeless. Okay? There's a big difference," Eliseo continued. "He's not a vagrant. He's homeless."
Eliseo said Steele had refused to give up Luke and go into a shelter because the dog had belonged to his late mother, and that members of the Yorktown community regularly checked on both of them.
“That's his only connection to his last family member,” he said.
When someone said Luke kept Matt alive Eliseo said “they kept each other alive.”
"Matthew was distraught. Matthew's besides himself,” he said. “Luke was his family now. There's not much difference between losing a human child and a canine. It's a two-legged child or a four-legged child.”
Another man, John, said he brought his Chihuahua Harley to visit Matt and Luke many times.
“Matt's a friend of mine, and I've been around Matt and Luke for the last six years,” he said. “I've had my little Chihuahua around Luke and never had a problem with him. In my personal opinion, this man that shot Luke had no business being where Matt is at anyway.”
Marie, who attended with Eliseo, said she believed Molloy overreacted even if he felt threatened.
“You have the right to bear arms to protect yourself,” she said. “You don't have the right to bear arms just to use it for fun.”
She said several dog owners had told her they were now afraid to walk their pets in the area.
“How do I know that there's not another person who's going to think, ‘Oh, I'm in danger’ and just shoot a dog?,” she said.
One speaker addressing the crowd outside the courthouse called on residents to attend the hearing and said the community wanted the case handled “fully” and “fairly.” The speaker also criticized Molloy’s status as a former law enforcement officer and said no one should be above the law.
At the Town Board meeting Tuesday night, Deputy Supervisor Sergio Esposito also addressed Luke’s death.
“The tragic death of Yorktown's beloved dog, Luke, is heartbreaking,” Esposito said. “The Town of Yorktown mourns his loss with Luke's owner, Matthew.”
He added that his “thoughts and prayers are with our town and all those affected by this incident.”
The case began Aug. 5, when Yorktown police responded to Route 118 near the former Turco’s at about 7:30 p.m. following a report of a dog attacking another dog. Officers arrived after the incident had already occurred and began investigating what had happened.
Steele, who is experiencing homelessness, was with Luke when the dog got loose as Steele tried to retrieve him after losing a sandal. Luke then approached and confronted another dog but had not attacked the animal when the other dog’s owner, Molloy, a retired NYPD officer, pulled out a firearm and shot him.
Police said Molloy was also the person who called police to report the incident. He was later arrested and taken to Yorktown Police Headquarters for processing.
Molloy faces charges of first-degree reckless endangerment, a Class D felony, and aggravated cruelty to animals, a Class E felony.
The case, People v. James Joseph Molloy, was adjourned to Tuesday, Oct. 13.
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