QUEENS, N.Y. — A Queens man has been convicted of second-degree murder for a Mother’s Day hit-and-run that killed a 49-year-old woman in front of her daughter, District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Wednesday.
Roosevelt Rose, 59, of 89th Avenue in Jamaica, was found guilty of murder, assault, criminal mischief, and leaving the scene of an incident without reporting after a jury deliberated for just two hours. He faces up to 25 years to life in prison when sentenced on October 7.
The deadly crash occurred on the morning of May 8, 2022, when Rose was behind the wheel of a white 2019 Ford F-550 truck on 120th Avenue in South Jamaica—a dead-end street. Prosecutors said Rose had never driven that type of vehicle before.
While attempting a three-point turn, Rose struck a BMW parked outside the home of Florence Ngwu. The loud crash drew Ngwu and her daughter outside, prompting them to call police.
According to trial testimony, Rose hit the BMW again with more force as he continued the turn, ignoring the pleas of bystanders to stop. He then struck Ngwu, fatally injuring her, and fled the scene.
“On Mother’s Day, a daughter watched as her mother was fatally injured by a driver who had already hit a car repeatedly while making a three-point turn and then hit another vehicle,” District Attorney Katz said. “He then drove away in an attempt to escape any accountability.”
Queens Supreme Court Justice Michael Aloise presided over the trial, which began with openings on July 23. The guilty verdict was reached Wednesday following summations.
