New Queens Precinct Opens in Southeast Queens, First in 10 Years
For over forty years, residents of the neighborhoods of Rosedale, Brookeville, Laurelton, and Springfield Gardens have called for a police precinct for their community. Now, activists like Bess DeBetham have finally reached their goal. What is now the first new police precinct since 2013, the 116th precinct will represent a region of Southeast Queens. Previously covered by the 105th precinct, community leaders felt they needed their own precinct to protect and serve them. Now, with officers closer to home, a safe community has never been more achievable.
Mass Scooter Seizure Crackdown in Queens
This month, the office of Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz in collaboration with the NYPD, have cracked down on scooters in the borough. Along Roosevelt Avenue alone, 24 illegally parked scooters were removed from the streets. These scooters being parked illegally is not the only way they can be seized, however. Over 1,000 scooters have been taken from the streets by the NYPD for reasons of lack of insurance or registration. Often when they are illegally parked on busy streets, pedestrian safety is risked.
Manhattan Man Sentenced to 29 Years in 2010 Murder of Glendale Woman
In the early morning hours of March 27, 2010, Rasheen Everett of Manhattan entered the apartment of 29-year old transgender woman Amanda Gonzalez Andujar. Everett strangled Andujar in her Glendale apartment, killing her, before pouring bleach on the body and stealing two bags worth of her belongings. Though Everett fled to Las Vegas, he was arrested within weeks after law enforcement recovered his DNA under the victim’s fingernails. When tried, Everett was found guilty, but his sentence was overturned due to a judge’s judicial error in 2021. Now, the office of the Queens District Attorney has retried Everett and secured a 29 year sentence for the murder. “This defendant callously took the life of a young woman and then tried to hide the crime. After a prior reversal of his conviction due to judicial error, we retried the defendant and the jury returned a guilty verdict. I hope today’s sentence brings a long-awaited measure of solace to the victim’s family,” said District Attorney Melinda Katz.
Queens Man Indicted in Kew Gardens Shooting
Alan Rodriguez has been indicted for a shooting that occurred in November in Kew Gardens, with charges including attempted murder, assault, and illegal possession of a firearm. Jignesh Patel and Vijay Patel were standing outside their double parked car in front of Rodriguez’ residence when he pulled up and began a verbal dispute with them. Arguing about their car being double parked, Rodriguez pulled out a firearm and shot the two men, with authorities later finding five shell casings at the scene. Both men suffered injuries and were transported to the hospital. Now, Rodriguez could face up to twenty-five years in prison for the alleged crimes. “This was a completely senseless act of violence, and the two victims will now carry injuries for the rest of their lives. My office is committed to removing illegal guns from our communities,” said District Attorney Melinda Katz.
House Ethics Committee Finds “Substantial Evidence” Former Trump Cabinet Pick Had Sex with Underage Girls While in Congress
Matt Gaetz, who was formerly chosen by President-Elect Donald Trump to be Attorney General in the next administration, has been under fire for allegations of statutory rape. While he had previously been investigated on sex trafficking charges in 2021, they were resumed after Trump’s controversial pick. The Ethics Committee released their report this week, after probing into past evidence and court statements. The committee found “substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated House Rules, state and federal laws, and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, acceptance of impermissible gifts, the provision of special favors and privileges, and obstruction of Congress.” Although they did not find evidence of sex trafficking, the rest have been substantiated by the committee. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing, and has made comments regarding the Committee’s choice to file a report instead of bringing Gaetz to court to present his own evidence.
Alleged CEO Killer Luigi Mangione Pleads Not Guilty
Luigi Mangione, the 26-year old Ivy Leaguer who has been charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder in furtherance of terrorism this week in a Manhattan court. Along with the New York State charges, federal charges have been brought as well, which could carry a death penalty sentence if Mangione is convicted. Thompson was shot twice in the back in front of his hotel, causing a massive manhunt by the NYPD to catch the shooter. Days after the killing, Mangione was arrested in a Pennsylvania McDonald’s. He was brought back to New York City and will face trial. Many people have spoken out for the young man, believing he did a good deed in making a statement against the corruption of the American healthcare industry. His last court appearance was attended by supporters and protestors outside. His next appearance is scheduled for February 21st.
Terrorist Attack in Germany Leaves Five Dead, One a 9-Year Old Girl
Last Friday, the world experienced another tragedy when a 50-year old Saudi Arabian man plowed into a busy Christmas market in the German city of Madgeburg. The identity of the man has not been released, but law enforcement reported that he is a psychiatrist and has lived in Germany for over twenty years. He described himself online as a lapsed Muslim and subscribed to far-right ideologies. He drove his van into the large crowd, resulting in the deaths of five people, one of them only a 9-year old child. German authorities have reported over 230 injuries due to the attack, with the number growing as days go on. A large crowd of mourners gathered near the site on Monday to pay their respects to those affected.
Woman Burned Alive on Subway
In the morning hours last Sunday, a sleeping woman was brutally murdered on a Brooklyn-bound F train. Through security footage, law enforcement found that an unidentified man calmly approached the woman and set her clothing on fire, causing her to burst into flames and die. NYPD apprehended the man within hours of the attack, and have not yet released his name. Authorities did provide that he was a Guatemalan immigrant, and are trying to ascertain the reason for the senseless killing. This was the second subway murder on Sunday, with a stabbing earlier in the day.
