Press Release
MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER IN RANDOM SHOOTING SPREE
Defendant Faces 25 Years-to-Life in Prison
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Thomas Abreu has been charged with murder, attempted murder, assault and weapon possession in a Saturday morning shooting spree that killed an 86-year-old man and injured three others in Queens and Brooklyn.
District Attorney Katz said: “The streets of two boroughs were turned into scenes of terror as this defendant allegedly rode his scooter, shooting indiscriminately at pedestrians and others. Thank you to the NYPD for quickly apprehending the suspect. My office will hold him fully accountable and seek justice for the victims.”
Abreu, 25, of Elton Street, Brooklyn, is awaiting arraignment on a complaint charging him with murder in the second degree, four counts of attempted murder in the second degree, two counts of assault in the first degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. If convicted, Abreu faces 25 years-to-life in prison.
According to the timeline of alleged events and the charges:
• On June 8, at approximately 11:10 a.m., Abreu was observed on video surveillance on Ashford Street and Arlington Avenue in Brooklyn driving a scooter and wearing a green shirt. He shot a pedestrian in the back.
• Approximately 16 minutes later, on 108th Street and Jamaica Avenue in Richmond Hill, Abreu was again observed by video surveillance, and by an eyewitness, wearing a green shirt as well as a fanny pack on his shoulder. He approached an 86-year-old man and shot him in the back. That victim was taken to the hospital where he later died.
• Approximately one minute later, at the same location, Abreu fired at a pedestrian walking on the sidewalk. The shooting was again observed on video surveillance and by an eyewitness. The pedestrian was not injured.
• Moments later, video surveillance captured Abreu on 126th Street and Hillside Avenue. He pulled up next to a parked minivan and shot the driver once in the head. The victim was taken to the hospital.
• Abreu was also seen on video surveillance at approximately 11:36 a.m. at the intersection of 131st Street and Jamaica Avenue, in the same green shirt. He rode past someone else on a scooter and fired at him. The person was not injured.
• Approximately one minute later, Abreu was observed on video surveillance on 134th Street and Jamaica Avenue. He approached a pedestrian who was crossing the street and shot the victim in the shoulder. The victim was also taken to the hospital.
• Abreu was arrested at approximately 1 p.m. after NYPD officers saw him at Sutphin Boulevard and Archer Avenue riding his scooter wearing a green shirt and fanny pack. He was apprehended after a short foot pursuit.
• Police recovered a pistol.
The investigation was conducted by members of the 75th, 101st, 102nd, 103rd, 107th and 113th Precincts, as well as the Queens Homicide Squad including Detective Timothy Harrington, Detective Kevin Goodspeed, Detective Nicholas Perez and Detective Thomas Scalise.
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 and under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Peter McCormack III and John W. Kosinski, Senior Deputy Bureau Chiefs, Karen Ross, Deputy Bureau Chief, and Assistant District Attorney Marilyn Filingeri, Supervisor, 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.