Wedding guest charged in Waldorf shooting

The drunken wedding guest who accidentally fired a handgun at a Waldorf-Astoria reception was finally charged Tuesday with two felony counts for the June melee.

“It wasn’t me. I’m not a criminal. I ripped my pants getting out of the cab,’’ klutzy liquor-store owner Vladimir Gotlibovsky lied to a worker at the storied hotel as he tried to get away, according to police statements revealed at his Manhattan arraignment.

But cops quickly nabbed Gotlibovsky, 42, of Brighton Beach, in the bizarre incident, which left four people injured.

Gotlibovsky wasn’t indicted until recently because investigators had trouble getting witnesses to cooperate, authorities said.

He was charged with felony criminal weapons possession and tampering with evidence, as well as six counts of misdemeanor assault.

Gotlibovsky’s older brother Felix, 51, was hit with the same felony charges for allegedly helped him hide the gun after the shooting.



Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass said both men are also being investigated by state tax and finance authorities “for liquor smuggling.”

Vladimir owns a liquor store in Eastchester in The Bronx. He told cops he carries a gun for protection.

Supreme Court Justice Maxwell Wiley set a $50,000 bond or $25,000 cash bail for both men. He allowed them to leave for the night and return Wednesday morning to post it.

Vladimir had been partying during a booze-fueled pre-wedding-reception cocktail hour at the hotel when the legal 9mm Ruger he was carrying in his pocket went off.

The bullet shot through his pants and ricocheted off the marble floor, grazing a female guest’s head. Vladimir injured his leg in the shooting, and three other people were hurt by flying marble, tile and glass shards.

Authorities say Vladimir panicked amid the ensuing mayhem and as cops descended on the scene slipped the gun to his brother, who then allegedly turned it over to their mother.

The mom then gave it to Vladimir’s wife, who went home and locked it in the family safe, authorities said.

The incident occurred after bride Anna Goldshmidt was married but before her dream million-dollar reception could take place. She is suing the Waldorf for canceling the reception because of the shooting.