QUEENS, NY – Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the arraignment of a 16-year-old from Sheffield Avenue, Brooklyn, on multiple charges following the armed theft of a French bulldog on Christmas Day in Long Island City.
The charges against the teenager include two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, criminal possession of a firearm, menacing in the second degree, petit larceny, and criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree. Criminal Court Judge Leigh Cheng has scheduled the defendant’s next court appearance for January 9.
According to the details released:
- The incident occurred on December 25 at around 9:00 AM.
- The defendant reportedly confronted a 15-year-old walking his dog at 41-14 10th Street, pointed a gun at his chest, and demanded he run, leaving the dog behind.
- The young dog owner complied and immediately informed the police.
- Roughly 15 minutes later, an NYPD officer spotted the defendant with the dog near 38-16 10th Street. The officer witnessed the defendant throwing a firearm over a fence.
- Police recovered a 9 mm gun loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition from a parking lot across from where the weapon was discarded.
- The stolen dog was safely returned to its owner.
District Attorney Katz condemned the brazen nature of the crime, emphasizing the seriousness of using a gun to commit theft and vowing zero tolerance for such dangerous conduct. The case is currently under the jurisdiction of the Queens County Criminal Court.