A Queens teenager is facing up to 25 years in prison if convicted on charges of attacking a couple in the borough after a drag racing meetup turned violent last month, law enforcement officials said Friday.
Justin Aguilera, 19, faces two counts of gang assault and four counts of assault, along with riot and trespass charges, police said. Queens prosecutors accused him of participating in beating Blake and Melissa Ferrer on the lawn outside their Malba home late at night two weekends ago.
Officials alleged Aguilera was part of a group who descended on the quiet residential block in about 50 cars — driving recklessly, doing doughnuts, breaking glass bottles and setting off fireworks. At one point, members of the group set an empty car on fire in the middle of the street, officials said.
“Our streets are shared spaces and they are never racetracks. My office will not allow illegal takeovers of our neighborhoods,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement Friday. “This violent incident has outraged our city.”
Widely shared video shows the Ferrers confronting several members of the group outside the couple’s home near the intersection of 141st Street and 11th Avenue. According to the DA’s office, one person threatened to kill Ferrer, saying, “I’ll pop you. I’ll put you six feet under. You’re not hard.”
When one of the people walked toward the couple’s front door, prosecutors said Blake Ferrer tried to stop him and the group attacked Ferrer, punching and kicking him as his wife tried to push them away.
Police and the DA’s office described Aguilera as one of the principal assailants. The gang assault charges stem from the accusation that he participated in the attack with at least three other people, officials said. He lives in Far Rockaway, according to the NYPD.
Ferrer was taken to a local hospital after the incident and treated for broken ribs, a broken shoulder and nose, a thyroid fracture and swelling to the back of his head, according to prosecutors.
Aguilera was arraigned on the charges in Queens Criminal Court early Friday, with a judge setting bail at $100,000 cash and $300,000 bond. His lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Aguilera’s next court date is set for Wednesday.
Tire marks on the Malba street that neighbors said drag racers took over
Police said they’re looking for three others involved in the incident.
Neighbors and City Councilmember Vickie Paladino, who represents Malba, initially criticized the NYPD for being slow to respond to multiple 911 calls about the situation as it unfolded. Police said they were handling various incidents across the precinct that night, and once the drag racing call was upgraded to a “crime in progress,” a patrol supervisor arrived on the scene within about 10 minutes. Firefighters were already putting out the car fire. Following the incident, police said they met with Paladino and residents and increased patrols in the area.
“This is not over, and I am not going to let this go until everyone involved faces consequences,” Paladino said Friday in a statement on X. She said Aguilera was arrested for a suspended license after the Malba incident, which helped police identify him in connection with the alleged assault. She also said police seized the main vehicle used in the drag racing that night.
Paladino added that she would meet with city transportation and police officials Friday morning to discuss infrastructure improvements that would discourage similar car meetups in the future.
This story has been updated with additional information.
