Press Release

BROOKLYN MAN INDICTED FOR FIRST-DEGREE ATTEMPTED MURDER AFTER HITTING NYPD OFFICER WITH STOLEN CAR

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Keyah Richardson was indicted by a grand jury and arraigned today on charges of attempted murder in the first degree, attempted assault in the first degree, assault and other crimes for allegedly ramming a stolen car into an NYPD officer who was investigating the theft. He is also accused of driving onto the sidewalk in Corona and nearly hitting a grandfather walking with his young granddaughter.

District Attorney Katz said: “This defendant is alleged to have a stolen a car and then used it as a battering ram to strike a New York City police officer. The defendant then nearly hit two pedestrians, a man and his young granddaughter, exited the stolen vehicle and led cops on a neighborhood-wide manhunt until he was ultimately captured on a rooftop. We have a secured grand jury indictment charging the defendant with attempted murder in the first degree, attempted assault in the first degree and other crimes.”

Richardson, 19, of Sutter Avenue in Brooklyn, was arraigned today on a 19-count indictment charging him with attempted murder in the first degree; attempted murder in the second degree; attempted assault in the first degree; three counts of assault in the second degree; three counts of reckless endangerment in the first degree; grand larceny in the fourth degree; criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree; possession of burglar’s tools; three counts of criminal mischief in the fourth degree; endangering the welfare of a child; reckless driving; driving a vehicle the wrong way on a one way roadway; and operating, driving or parking a motor vehicle without proper license plates.

If convicted, he faces up to 40 years to life in prison.

Supreme Court Justice Toni Cimino ordered him to return to court on October 7.

According to the charges:

  • On August 18, at approximately 5 p.m., NYPD officers investigating a report of a stolen 2020 white Infiniti, saw Richardson sitting in a white 2020 Infiniti in front of 34-14 99th Street in North Corona. The car had no license plates.
  • Richardson was then seen driving the car in reverse and onto the sidewalk, almost hitting a young girl who was walking by with her grandfather.
  • An NYPD sergeant identified himself as a police officer and ordered Richardson to stop. Instead, Richardson drove forward toward Officer Bartholomew Tully, who was walking toward the front of the Infiniti. Tully jumped onto the hood of an adjacent car to escape injury but was hit anyway by Richardson.
  • Richardson then sped off, hitting multiple parked cars including two unmarked police cars. He also drove the wrong way on a one-way street.
  • Richardson was apprehended on the roof of 38-11 97th Police recovered a diagnostic key programmer, which is commonly used to commit crimes including larcenies, and two license plates.
  • The injured officer was taken to a hospital and treated for substantial pain to his hip, knee and ankle.

Assistant District Attorney Ryan Licciardello of the District Attorney’s Career Criminal Major Crimes Bureau is prosecuting the case, with the assistance of Assistant District Attorneys Jairo Coronado of Felony Trial Bureau II and Alyssa Glasshagel of Felony Trial Bureau III, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Michael Whitney, Bureau Chief, Roni Piplani, Deputy Bureau Chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Shawn Clark.

 

**Criminal complaints and indictments are accusations. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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