One of New York state’s top-ten tax cops was brutally gunned down in her Queens home last night by her ex-NYPD husband.
Clarence Cash, 49, blasted his wife 10 times in the face, back and abdomen after the couple argued, law enforcement sources said.
After firing off the merciless barrage at his wife, top state tax fraud investigator Tracey Young, 42, Cash fled their apartment and before turning himself in at the Midtown South precinct about 6 a.m. today, the sources said.
Cash, who sources said made a full confession, was taken to the 107th precinct in Queens, where he was later charged with first-degree murder.
Cash, who retired from the 32nd precinct in 2006, has a long history of money woes, including federal tax liens from the IRS, multiple civil judgments and warrants from New York state for failing to pay back taxes.
Young, a criminal investigatotr since 2002 with the state Department of Taxation and Finance, was an ace investigator who specialized in illegal cigarette smuggling, her boss said.
“She was an incredible investigator -- one of the top ten in New York State,” said the assistant director of investigations for the department, who did not want to be identified. “She made so many cases.”
“She was an excellent person. Everyone thought the world of her,” he said. “She was the most dedicated person you’ll ever meet. A true cop.”
Neighbors described her as a sweetheart who as always willing to help out around the building.
One neighbor, Maple Dong, 28, said Young often spoke of the lavish gifts cash gave her.
“She said (Cash) bought a lot of gifts for her for Christmas,” including a Louis Vutton bag. “She said ‘I asked for it and he bought it for me.’”
“They seemed very good together. They seemed to care about each other.”
“We would talk in the lobby about the board for an hour, hour-and-a-half, and he would come down and look for her to make sure she was OK.”
“It doesn’t make any sense to me. When I saw a lot of cops outside last night, I called her to find out what happened, but nobody picked up.”
“I still can’t believe it he did it, I really can’t. I don’t know what kind of argument they could have had for him to kill her.”
“It’s very shocking. She was very dedicated to the building. She just did the Christmas decorations. We were supposed to have a meeting tonight,” said a neighbor who identified herself only as Agnes.
Her hubby Martin said Cash seemed like a nice, respectful man who doted on his wife.
“I spoke to him all the time. He was a quiet guy, very friendly. It’s a shock,” he said.“He always called her ‘My sweet lady’ and things like that.”
martin said he heard a commotion at the time of the shooting.
“I heard a couple of loud banging noises last night -- like someone was doing construction and dropped something. I went up the stairs and saw a lot of cops and firefighters.”
The couple had no children.
Tragically, Tracey Young had been the victim of senseless bloodshed as a child, when her mother was brutally killed by a boyfriend, a neighbor said.
Cash was arraigned tonight and remanded without bail.
He showed up in Queens criminal court wearing a gray hoodie but didn't say a word as Assistant District Attorney Robert Hanophy Jr. told the judge that when he turned himself in, Cash told the officers at the desk, "I'm a retired cop,'' then confessed to his murderous deed before adding, "My wife, she didn't deserve that.''
Hanophy said Cash told the cops that Saturday night, he and his wife "went to get food'' and returned to their apartment.
“I lit some candles, and I rubbed cream on her back,’’ he said, according to Hanophy.
The pair then started fighting, he said.
“When we were arguing, she mushed me in the face, and I punched her,’’ Cash allegedly said.
After she threatened to go to her sister's, he became enraged and pulled out a gun, he told cops, according to the ADA.
He thought he only shot her three or four times.
Cash said he then "he took her gun and went to Rockaway Beach to kill himself but couldn’t do it.’’
Cash's lawyer, Sam Braverman, who knows his client from his past work at the federal courthouse, asked for Cash to be placed in protective custody while at Rikers.
As he was being led out of the courtroom, Cash turned around and stared blankly at about eight pals who were there to support him.
Cash's next court appearance in set for Jan. 3.
“It’s a tragic situation,'' Braverman said. "[Cash] is an excellent, excellent law-enforcement officer.
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