Two Rikers Island jail guards who were charged last year for their role in the non-fatal shooting of a man outside a New Jersey strip club have been sued by the victim, new court papers show.
Kevin Simon sued the city, the Department of Correction and Correction Officers Rasheim Williams, 26, and Keith Hood, 29, for their part in the shooting that took place outside Tease Gentlemen’s Club in Paterson on July 13, 2019, according to a Manhattan Supreme Court lawsuit filed Monday.
A third man — accused triggerman Jeffrey Hulse, 29, of Roselle — was charged with attempted murder for the shooting. Hulse was not named as a defendant in the case.
Hood and Williams allegedly “conspired with Jeffrey Hulse to shoot Mr. Simon, pulled out their service pistol(s) and used or allowed their service pistol(s) to be used to open fire on Mr. Simon,” the court papers charge.
Simon — who was shot multiple times — says he sustained injuries to his back and stomach and fractured his hip. The injuries required surgery and hospitalization, the court papers say.
To this day, Simon “continues to suffer from excruciating left side, legs, back and hip pain as well as severe weakness and nerve damage.”
The scene at Tease Gentlemen’s Club in 2019 after the shootingChristopher SadowskiSimon, of Pennsylvania, said the attack was totally unprovoked.
“Mr. Simon was innocent, unarmed, and posed no threat of harm to defendants … or the public,” the court documents say.
Simon is suing for assault and battery, excessive use of force and other claims. He says the DOC was negligent in its training, hiring and supervision of the officers.
Rikers guards “have a documented history of on and off-duty aggressive police practices, including but not limited to the use of excessive force against the public and minorities and engaging in coverups,” the suit charges.
Officials at the time said Hood, a seven-year veteran, and Williams, a three-year veteran, were suspended. The pair’s current job status was not immediately known.
Hood and Williams were charged with weapons possession for the incident.
Simon is suing for unspecified damages.
Simon’s lawyer declined to comment.
“We’ll review the case,” a city Law Department spokesman said.
Neither the DOC nor Hood immediately returned requests for comment. Williams could not be reached.




