Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Thomas Abreu was arraigned today on an indictment charging him with murder and five counts of attempted murder after allegedly going on a shooting spree while riding a scooter and killing an 86-year-old man and wounding two others in Queens.

District Attorney Katz said: “This is a chilling case of brazen, random violence for no apparent reason other than to shed blood on our streets.  The defendant will be held to account and we will seek justice for the victims of these senseless attacks.”

Abreu, 25, of Elton Street, Brooklyn, was arraigned on a 14-count indictment charging him with murder in the second degree, five counts of attempted murder in the second degree, two counts of assault in the first degree, three counts of attempted assault in the first degree, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree. Queens Supreme Court Justice Ushir Pandit-Durant ordered Abreu to return to court on September 26.  If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.

According to the charges:

• On July 8, at approximately 11:26 a.m., Abreu was seen on video surveillance cameras and by an eyewitness on 108^th Street and Jamaica Avenue in Richmond Hill riding a scooter and wearing a green shirt and with a fanny pack on his shoulder. He approached 86-year-old Hamod Saeidi and shot him in the back. Saeidi was taken to a hospital where he later died.
• At approximately the same time and at the same location, Abreu, still riding a scooter, fired at two pedestrians, one walking a dog on the sidewalk and at another crossing the street. Neither was struck. The shootings were captured on video surveillance footage.
• Moments later, video surveillance showed Abreu on 126^th Street and Hillside Avenue. He pulled his scooter up next to a parked minivan and shot the driver at close range once in the head. The victim was taken to a hospital and is currently in serious condition.
• Abreu was also seen on video surveillance in the same green shirt on his scooter at approximately 11:36 a.m. at the intersection of 131^st Street and Jamaica Avenue. He fired multiple shots at a man, also on a scooter, but did not hit him.
• Approximately one minute later, Abreu was observed on video surveillance riding his scooter on 134^th Street and Jamaica Avenue. He approached a pedestrian crossing the street and shot the victim in the shoulder. The victim was treated at a local hospital.
• At approximately 1:00 p.m., Abreu was arrested after NYPD officers saw him at Sutphin Boulevard and Archer Avenue riding his scooter. He was apprehended after a foot pursuit.
• Police recovered a loaded pistol with an extended magazine, as well as a fanny pack containing additional ammunition.

Abreu is alleged to have also shot a pedestrian in Brooklyn earlier that same day.

Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Selkowe of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Assistant District Attorney Kenneth Koo under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys John W. Kosinski, Bureau Chief, Peter J. McCormack III, Senior Deputy Bureau Chief, Karen Ross, Deputy Bureau Chief, Marilyn Filingeri, Supervisor and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Shawn Clark.