The son of a former Mount Vernon town official was arraigned on Wednesday for his alleged role in a gang-related shooting.

His mother Jennifer Lackard, the former deputy commissioner of public safety, was arraigned Tuesday night on charges including attempted murder, conspiracy and criminal weapons possession.

She is accused of acting as a getaway driver for her son after police say he opened fire outside a courthouse in the Bronx in June.

Chase Lackard, 20, appeared in Bronx criminal court on Wednesday where he pleaded not guilty.

He is charged with attempted murder for allegedly firing several shots at a group of people on June 29.

"This appears to be gang-related as one of the individuals that was in the group is a member of a rival set and this defendant, our investigation has revealed, is a member of a gang as well," said Assistant District Attorney Keturah Ladd.

But the case has made national headlines not only because Lackard's mother is accused of driving the getaway car, but because of her job at the time: deputy commissioner of the Mount Vernon police department.

Lackard ran the department's wellness unit since 2020. She has a background in social work and served on a Bronx community board.

But prosecutors say she and her ex-husband drove their son from their building to a court appearance. Afterward she allegedly sent a text "You can't just sit directly outside. It has to be timed right."

Prosecutors say the three drove around for nearly an hour before Chase allegedly fired several shots.

The 20-year-old has three other gun cases pending and is being held without bail.

Lackard has been fired and is being held on $75,000 bail. Her ex-husband, who is being sought out of state, has also been indicted.

The charges carry a potential sentence of 25 years in prison.

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