Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.
Based upon a sworn juror's apprehension over the defendant having a friend who was the juror's former student, and the juror's inability to state that he could continue to be fair and impartial because of his anxiety that his identity could become known, the trial court acted properly in discharging the juror as being "grossly unqualified" (CPL 270.35; see generally, People v Buford, 69 N.Y.2d 290, 299; see also, People v. Bolden, 197 A.D.2d 528; People v. Williams, 181 A.D.2d 845).
We have considered the defendant's remaining contention and find it to be without merit. Bracken, J.P., Miller, Joy and Altman, JJ., concur.