Jailhouse murder-for-hire plot foiled

(New York - WABC, May 9, 2007) (WABC) -- A murder plot, involving a plan to kill a New York City police officer, has been foiled.

Authorities released the details just before noon Wednesday.

Eyewitness News reporter Sandra Bookman has the latest from police headquarters in Lower Manhattan.

Police say this plot was hatched in Rikers Island by an inmate already jailed there. Authorities say they became aware of it about a month ago because of a conversation between an informant and 23-year-old inmate Andrew Spencer.

Spencer allegedly expressed a desire to hire a hit man and kill his arresting officer before he testified in Spencer's upcoming trial on assault and weapons charges.

In addition to Spencer, police say they executed a search warrant at the home of 23-year-old Kiyee Kye. There, they say they confiscated several weapons, including an assault rifle and a 9-mm handgun.

Authorities say Kye was providing support to Spencer and was going to supply the weapons that would be used to play out the hit.

"The payment, incidentally, for this supposed hit was going to be a Lexus, a Ford Explorer and $1,000 in cash," Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said.

Both suspects are from Jamaica, Queens. They are charged with conspiracy to commit murder and weapons possession. If convicted, they each face up to 25 years in prison.

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