**New York Man Shoots Would-be Robber, Faces Legal Challenges**
A New York City man who fatally shot a would-be robber now faces 24 gun charges and a doubled bail. The new charges come after authorities discovered a cache of unlicensed firearms in the man’s home. However, they are not directly linked to the shooting.
Charles Foehner, a 65-year-old retired doorman, was confronted by 32-year-old Cody Gonzalez in the early hours of a Wednesday morning. As Gonzalez stumbled toward him demanding money and cigarettes, Foehner mistook a pen in Gonzalez’s hand for a knife. Following several warnings, Foehner shot Gonzalez after he lunged. Gonzalez had a troubled history, with 15 arrests and a record of mental illness.
Initially, Foehner turned himself in and was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm, receiving a bail of $25,000. Yet, after a search warrant unearthed two dozen firearms in his home, Foehner’s charges and bail both surged. The cache includes pistols, shotguns, rifles, an AK 47, body armor vests, and multiple rounds of ammunition. While some rifles were licensed, many of the discovered firearms, including the one used in the shooting, were not.
Foehner revealed that he carried the unlicensed firearm due to skyrocketing crime rates in New York City. He also admitted to collecting firearms as a hobby since the 1990s, but lacked permits for many weapons in his possession.
Judge Jerry Iannece showed no sympathy for Foehner, doubling his bail, and expressing concern over the horde found in the self-defense shooting suspect’s home.
As Foehner’s lawyer argued for his release, citing that he is a deli worker with no prior criminal history and a responsible local, the judge remained firm on the increased bail.
Foehner is now facing a potential 25 years in prison on the top charge of criminal possession of a firearm in the first degree. He is set to return to court on June 5.
**A Victim or a Criminal? Hard Decisions for an NYC Self-defense Shooter**
