QUEENS, NY – Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz has announced the arraignment of Dante Hunter and Shamel Capers following their indictment in connection with the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Joshua Taylor in Middle Village on July 23, 2023. Hunter is charged with murder, and Capers with attempted murder, among other charges.
The incident, which unfolded in the early hours of July 23 last year, began when a friend of Taylor’s threw a drink towards Capers and a friend outside a convenience store, sparking a verbal dispute that escalated into a shootout. Hunter, who joined Capers, is alleged to have fired the round that killed Taylor. The exchange of gunfire resulted in more than two dozen 9 mm shell casings recovered at the scene.
Hunter, 25, of Far Rockaway, faces charges including second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon. Capers, 24, of Brooklyn, faces charges of attempted murder and weapon possession. Both defendants could face up to 25 years to life if convicted of their respective top charges.
The investigation was spearheaded by Detective Christopher Gerardi of the NYPD’s 104th Precinct Detective Squad and Detective Lizabeth Klein of the Queens North Homicide Squad. Capers was arrested on May 16 in New Jersey and has been extradited to New York to face charges, while Hunter was already in custody on a parole warrant at the time of the indictment. Justice Michael Aloise has scheduled their next court appearance for June 18.
- Brooklyn man arrested after attempted rape of 13-year-old girl near Ocean Parkway
BROOKLYN, NY – A 22-year-old Brooklyn man is in custody after police said he attacked a 13-year-old girl in her building Friday afternoon, ending a brief search that had the neighborhood on edge.
Justin Lee, of Ocean Parkway, was arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a child and harassment following the incident, which took place around 1:05 p.m. near Ocean Parkway and Ditmas Avenue, according to the NYPD.
Girl attacked entering home
Investigators said the teen was returning to her residence when Lee allegedly followed her inside, grabbed her by the neck, and shoved her. He then fled the building before officers tracked him down nearby.
Police said the victim was not physically injured but was left shaken by the encounter.
Search ends with arrest
Witnesses and surveillance footage helped officers quickly identify Lee, who matched the description released shortly after the incident — a man last seen wearing a pink T-shirt, gray sweatpants, and a black ski mask.
He was taken into custody without further incident.
Key Points
- Justin Lee, 22, of Brooklyn, was arrested after allegedly attacking a 13-year-old girl in her building.
- The incident happened Friday afternoon near Ocean Parkway and Ditmas Avenue.
- Police said the victim was unharmed, and the suspect was charged with child endangerment and harassment.
- Joanne Chesimard’s death reminds New Jersey that a Phil Murphy appointed judge let her accomplice out of jail
TRENTON, NJ – The death of fugitive Joanne Chesimard, also known as Assata Shakur, is stirring renewed focus on one of New Jersey’s darkest chapters — the 1973 murder of State Trooper Werner Foerster — and the lingering sense that justice was never fully delivered.
Chesimard, a convicted killer and member of the Black Liberation Army, was serving a life sentence when she escaped from a New Jersey prison in 1979 and fled to Cuba, where she lived in exile for decades. Her death, confirmed this week, closes the chapter on her life but leaves open wounds for law enforcement and Foerster’s family.
Political leaders respond
Former gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli said Chesimard’s death was “a reminder of the lasting tragedy that justice was never served,” while Gov. Phil Murphy issued his own statement of solidarity with Foerster’s widow and family.
“Unlike his killer, Trooper Foerster never had a chance to live out his days in peace,” Murphy said.
One person tied to the murder is living out his days in peace, thanks to Democrat appointed judges, and one appointed by Murphy himself.
Spotlight on Sundiata Acoli release
The case also casts new attention on Sundiata Acoli, Chesimard’s accomplice and former Black Panther, who was freed in May 2022 after nearly 50 years in prison. Acoli, now 85, was released following a 3-2 ruling by the New Jersey Supreme Court, with three justices nominated by Democratic governors casting votes in favor of parole.
Justice Barry Albin, nominated in 2002 by Gov. James McGreevey, and Justice Fabiana Pierre-Louis, nominated in 2020 by Murphy, were among those voting to release Acoli.
His freedom remains a point of contention among law enforcement groups and political leaders.
Legacy of a trooper’s sacrifice
Trooper Foerster was shot and killed during a traffic stop on the New Jersey Turnpike on May 2, 1973. Chesimard, Acoli, and another accomplice opened fire after being pulled over. One accomplice was killed in the shootout, Acoli was captured and convicted, and Chesimard was sentenced to life before her escape.
Foerster’s name remains etched in New Jersey State Police history, his death serving as a lasting reminder of the risks faced by law enforcement on the front lines.
Key Points
- Joanne Chesimard, convicted in the 1973 killing of Trooper Werner Foerster, has died in exile after escaping prison in 1979.
- Gov. Phil Murphy and Jack Ciattarelli issued statements honoring Foerster and his family.
- Chesimard’s death revives scrutiny of Sundiata Acoli’s 2022 release, approved by a divided New Jersey Supreme Court.
- Cotton Display at NYC Hotel Doesn’t Sit Right With Serena Williams, But She Has One At Home
NEW YORK, NY – Serena Williams is calling out a New York City hotel for using a cotton decoration, saying the display didn’t sit right with her.
The tennis legend posted on Instagram that the sight of cotton on display in the hotel lobby left her unsettled. “Personally, for me, it doesn’t feel great,” Williams told her followers, without naming the hotel.
NEW: Serena Williams speaks out against a cotton decoration at a New York City hotel, says it doesn’t make her “feel great.”
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 27, 2025
“Personally, for me, it doesn’t feel great,” she said on IG.
Ironically, in a 2021 video, Williams showed off her home, which features a sculpture of a… pic.twitter.com/biyF3jbdJAOld posts resurface
Following her comments, fans began circulating images from Williams’ past, pointing out that her own home once featured a piece of art prominently involving cotton. In a 2021 video tour of her residence, Williams showcased a sculpture titled Monument for a Promise by artist Radcliffe Bailey.
The piece depicts a donkey carrying a trunk while standing over a mound of cotton, an intentional reference to history and labor in the United States.
Family connection to the artwork
Fans also resurfaced an Instagram post from Williams’ husband, Alexis Ohanian, who previously highlighted the artwork on his own account. According to ARTnews, Bailey’s work draws on themes of ancestry, memory, and African American history, giving context to the sculpture that some online critics contrasted with the hotel’s decoration.
Williams has not addressed the resurfaced posts or commented further on the comparison.
Key Points
- Serena Williams said a cotton decoration at a New York City hotel did not make her “feel great.”
- Fans pointed out Williams owns a sculpture that incorporates cotton, titled Monument for a Promise.
- The artwork, by Radcliffe Bailey, has been featured in both Williams’ and her husband’s social media posts.
Even the most decorated athletes can spark debate with a single Instagram story.
- Teen Girl Accosted, Shoved Under Stairwell by Attacker in Brooklyn
Brooklyn, NY – Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a man wanted in connection with a frightening encounter involving a 13-year-old girl inside her building near Ocean Parkway and Ditmas Avenue.
Teen girl attacked in stairwell
According to investigators, the incident happened on Friday around 1:05 p.m. when the girl was returning home. An unidentified man followed her into the residence, grabbed her by the neck, and forced her under a staircase before fleeing south on Ocean Parkway.
No injuries were reported, but authorities are treating the case as endangering the welfare of a child.
Suspect description released
The suspect is described as a male with a dark complexion. He was last seen wearing a pink T-shirt, gray sweatpants, and a black ski mask. The NYPD has released images of the individual and is asking anyone with information to come forward.
Police appeal for assistance
The investigation is being handled by the 66th Precinct, and tips can be submitted confidentially through NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS or via the NYPD website.
Key Points
- A 13-year-old girl was followed into her home near Ocean Parkway and Ditmas Avenue on Friday afternoon.
- The suspect grabbed her by the neck and pushed her under a staircase before fleeing.
- Police described the man as wearing a pink T-shirt, gray sweatpants, and a black ski mask.
NYPD is urging Brooklyn residents to stay alert and help identify the masked suspect.
- Judge lets retaliation claims proceed in Mavis Tire bias lawsuit
Brooklyn, NY – A federal judge has allowed a former store manager’s retaliation claims against Mavis Discount Tire to move forward while dismissing his other discrimination allegations.
Court trims down complaint
Plaintiff Timothy Kittle, who worked briefly as a manager at Mavis’ Hicksville location, alleged race-based disparate treatment, hostile work environment, and retaliation under Title VII and New York State Human Rights Law. He also sued Greg Brown individually under the state statute.
In a ruling this week, U.S. District Judge Nusrat J. Choudhury dismissed without prejudice Kittle’s disparate treatment and hostile work environment claims against Mavis, as well as all aiding-and-abetting claims against Brown. The court granted Kittle leave to amend and refile those claims with additional factual support.
Retaliation claims survive
The judge denied dismissal of Kittle’s retaliation claims, finding his allegations sufficient to plausibly show he may have faced adverse action after engaging in protected activity. Those claims will proceed to discovery.
Background of the case
Kittle, a white male, began with Mavis in 2020 as a Manager in Training and was later promoted to Store Manager. He alleged that within weeks of his transfer to Hicksville in January 2021, he turned the struggling location into a top performer but was subjected to racially charged remarks and unfair treatment. He claims Mavis retaliated against him after he raised complaints.
Key Points
- Judge dismissed Kittle’s disparate treatment and hostile work environment claims but allowed him to amend.
- All aiding-and-abetting claims against Greg Brown were dismissed.
- Retaliation claims under Title VII and NYSHRL remain active.
The case will now move forward on the narrow issue of whether Mavis retaliated against its short-tenured store manager.