Press Release

Faces Up to Life in Prison

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Thomas Abreu was charged today in a 14-count indictment with murder and five counts of attempted murder after allegedly going on a shooting spree while riding a scooter, killing an 86-year-old man and wounding two others in Queens.

District Attorney Katz said: “The scourge of gun violence continues to steal family, friends, and loved ones from our communities, leaving fear and misery in its tragic wake. The defendant will be held to account for the serious charges returned against him by the grand jury.”

Abreu, 25, of Elton Street, Brooklyn, was charged 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. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.

According to the charges:

• On July 8, at approximately 11:26 a.m., Abreu was observed by video surveillance cameras and an eyewitness on 108th Street and Jamaica Avenue in Richmond Hill riding a scooter and wearing a green shirt and 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 a pedestrian walking a dog on the sidewalk and at another pedestrian crossing the street. Neither pedestrian was struck. The shootings were captured on video surveillance.
• Moments later, video surveillance showed Abreu on 126th 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 at approximately 11:36 a.m. at the intersection of 131st Street and Jamaica Avenue. Riding his scooter, he fired multiple times at a man who was also on a scooter but who was not struck during the incident.
• Approximately one minute later, Abreu was observed on video surveillance on 134th Street and Jamaica Avenue. Still riding his scooter, he approached a pedestrian crossing the street and shot the victim in the shoulder. The victim was treated at a local hospital.
• Abreu was arrested at approximately 1:00 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 foot pursuit.
• Police recovered a loaded pistol with an extended magazine to hold ammunition, 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.

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