QUEENS, NY — Two Brooklyn men have been charged with attempted murder and multiple other offenses after allegedly trying to carjack an off-duty NYPD officer and shooting him during the encounter early Saturday morning in Long Island City, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Tuesday.
Denzel Brown, 29, and Marvin Dankwah, 26, were arraigned on charges including second-degree attempted murder, first-degree attempted robbery, and criminal possession of a weapon. Authorities say the defendants attempted to steal Officer Jason Mathew’s green BMW at gunpoint, firing into the vehicle and injuring the officer as he tried to escape.
Key Points
- Off-duty NYPD officer was shot during an attempted carjacking in Long Island City on April 27.
- Two Brooklyn men have been charged with attempted murder and multiple felonies.
- The suspects led police on a high-speed chase before crashing into a patrol car and fleeing on foot.
According to prosecutors, the attempted carjacking took place around 6:30 a.m. on April 27 outside Silvercup Studios. Brown allegedly exited a gray Nissan Altima with a gun in his waistband and ordered the officer out of his car. As the officer attempted to flee, Brown fired a shot that struck him in the upper leg. The officer was later treated at a hospital and is recovering.
Police recovered a .380-caliber shell casing from the scene and a bullet from the officer’s clothing. Within an hour of the incident, officers spotted the suspects’ damaged vehicle on Grand Central Parkway. The defendants allegedly sped through red lights and caused other drivers to swerve before crashing into a police vehicle near 33-11 Leavitt Street in Flushing.
High-speed pursuit and capture
After the crash, both suspects fled on foot but were quickly apprehended by responding officers. District Attorney Katz commended the NYPD for their swift response. “An off-duty New York City Police officer was nearly murdered by these two defendants when they attempted to carjack him and fired into his vehicle,” Katz stated.
Brown and Dankwah remain in custody and are scheduled to return to court on May 1. If convicted of the top charge, each faces up to 25 years in prison.