Two local men are facing murder charges while two others were charged in connection of the drive-by shooting of a Hudson Valley man and the ensuing high-speed chase across three counties.

On Tuesday in Orange County Court, Steven Williams, 29, and Donnell Johnson, 24, both of Poughkeepsie, were arraigned on an indictment charging them with murder.

Tysheed McPhee, 23, and Kyreem Selman, 18, also of Poughkeepsie, who were charged in the same indictment, were arraigned on charges including criminal possession of a weapon.

All four were in a car driven by Johnson near Hasbrook and Williams Streets in the City of Newburgh on Jan. 25 around 10:20 p.m., officials say. Prosecutors argued that Williams and Johnson fatally shot 40-year-old Jermaine Cooper of Newburgh from the car.

“Random gun violence on our city streets simply cannot be tolerated,” Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler said. “The heroic work that police officers perform every day to protect us from gun violence is epitomized by the actions of the Town of Police Officer whose quick thinking resulted in this car being stopped. My deepest condolences go out to the family of the victim. My Office will continue to work with all our law enforcement partners to reduce gun violence so that hopefully, no one will have to mourn the loss of loved-one to senseless gun violence.”

All four of were charged with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon for possessing a .380 semi-automatic pistol and a .357 caliber revolver, and two counts of tampering with physical evidence for allegedly tossing the weapons during a high-speed chase that began in the City of Newburgh and ended in Poughkeepsie.

Johnson was also charged with reckless endangerment, unlawful fleeing from a police officer and reckless driving, for driving the car at excessive speeds, swerving between lanes among other motorists, and driving on the shoulder of the highway, in an attempt to avoid being stopped by a pursuing Town of Newburgh Police Officer, officials say.

The chase ended when the car crashed into a tree in the City of Poughkeepsie.

Bail was set for Williams and Johnson in the amount of $1,000,000 cash or $2,000,000 bond. Bail was set for McPhee was set in the amount of $200,000 cash or bond. Williams, Johnson and McPhee remain incarcerated. Kyreem Selman posted bail which had been set in the amount of $150,000 cash or bond.

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