Teenager Embroiled in Drag Racing Meetup Turned Violent Attack on Queens Couple Faces Up to 25 Years Behind Bars
A 19-year-old from Far Rockaway, Justin Aguilera, is facing severe penalties if convicted of participating in a violent attack on a couple in Queens. The alleged assault occurred after a group of drag racing enthusiasts descended upon the neighborhood, causing chaos and destruction. According to authorities, Aguilera was part of the group that engaged in reckless behavior, including speeding, doing doughnuts, and setting off fireworks.
The situation escalated when members of the group set fire to an empty car in the middle of the street. The couple, Blake and Melissa Ferrer, had been confronted by several individuals from the group outside their home, where they were subjected to a violent attack that left them with multiple injuries. The Ferrers' front door was allegedly breached during the assault, which saw Aguilera punch and kick the victim in multiple locations.
The Queens District Attorney's office has accused Aguilera of gang assault and assault charges, with prosecutors alleging he participated in the beating alongside at least three other individuals. He is also facing riot and trespass charges.
"We will not allow our streets to be treated as racetracks," said Melinda Katz, the Queens District Attorney. "This violent incident has outraged our city."
The couple, Blake Ferrer, suffered broken ribs, a shoulder fracture, nose damage, and swelling on his head as a result of the attack. Melissa Ferrer was also injured.
Aguilera's lawyer has yet to comment on the charges. The teenager is being held on $100,000 cash bail or $300,000 bond, with his next court date scheduled for Wednesday.
Police are still searching for three other individuals believed to be involved in the incident and have seized the main vehicle used in the drag racing meetup that night. City Councilmember Vickie Paladino, who represents Malba, has expressed outrage over the NYPD's initial response to the situation and vowed to continue pushing for consequences for those responsible.
Paladino stated that Aguilera was previously arrested for a suspended license after his involvement in another incident in Malba, which helped police identify him as a suspect. She also announced plans to meet with city officials to discuss infrastructure improvements aimed at preventing similar car meetups in the future.
A 19-year-old from Far Rockaway, Justin Aguilera, is facing severe penalties if convicted of participating in a violent attack on a couple in Queens. The alleged assault occurred after a group of drag racing enthusiasts descended upon the neighborhood, causing chaos and destruction. According to authorities, Aguilera was part of the group that engaged in reckless behavior, including speeding, doing doughnuts, and setting off fireworks.
The situation escalated when members of the group set fire to an empty car in the middle of the street. The couple, Blake and Melissa Ferrer, had been confronted by several individuals from the group outside their home, where they were subjected to a violent attack that left them with multiple injuries. The Ferrers' front door was allegedly breached during the assault, which saw Aguilera punch and kick the victim in multiple locations.
The Queens District Attorney's office has accused Aguilera of gang assault and assault charges, with prosecutors alleging he participated in the beating alongside at least three other individuals. He is also facing riot and trespass charges.
"We will not allow our streets to be treated as racetracks," said Melinda Katz, the Queens District Attorney. "This violent incident has outraged our city."
The couple, Blake Ferrer, suffered broken ribs, a shoulder fracture, nose damage, and swelling on his head as a result of the attack. Melissa Ferrer was also injured.
Aguilera's lawyer has yet to comment on the charges. The teenager is being held on $100,000 cash bail or $300,000 bond, with his next court date scheduled for Wednesday.
Police are still searching for three other individuals believed to be involved in the incident and have seized the main vehicle used in the drag racing meetup that night. City Councilmember Vickie Paladino, who represents Malba, has expressed outrage over the NYPD's initial response to the situation and vowed to continue pushing for consequences for those responsible.
Paladino stated that Aguilera was previously arrested for a suspended license after his involvement in another incident in Malba, which helped police identify him as a suspect. She also announced plans to meet with city officials to discuss infrastructure improvements aimed at preventing similar car meetups in the future.
like, i get it, he was there and stuff but come on, how many times do we have to see this kind of thing before people start taking responsibility for their actions? 
and what's with the authorities not cracking down harder on these drag racing meetups in the first place? seems like they're more worried about being popular than keeping people safe 
. first, it's drag racing on the streets, now people getting beaten up... what's next? police are doing their job but city council needs to step up and take responsibility too 
. and another thing, why can't we just have one decent community meetup without it turning into chaos?! 
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This is just crazy! These kids are out of control, doing donuts on the street and setting off fireworks. And then they go after an innocent couple? No way. It's like they think the world owes them a thrill ride or something. 
I'm not surprised the city is stepping up to try and prevent these kinds of meetups from happening again. We need more community policing and a crackdown on reckless behavior like this. 
. This situation just goes to show that we need to find a balance between having some freedom to enjoy our hobbies and making sure everyone's safety is considered too 
.
. And with Aguilera facing up to 25 years behind bars, it just goes to show that there are consequences for reckless behavior 
. As a city, we need to come together to find solutions to prevent these kinds of incidents in the future 
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? It's not that simple, I know, but it seems like something worth exploring 
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and btw, $100k bail? that's peanuts for someone who caused real harm. the fact that they were doing doughnuts and fireworks in the middle of the neighborhood is just crazy 
This is so crazy how some people think they own the streets and can just do whatever they want 
No tolerance for that kind of behavior 
. The fact that the cops didn't handle it better on scene is also super suspicious 
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The Queens District Attorney is right on point, we gotta keep our streets safe and prevent these reckless meetups from happening again #JusticeForTheFerrers 
From improving infrastructure to increasing community engagement, we need to work together to keep our streets safe and peaceful #QueensDeservesBetter 
. Let's hope that from this tragedy, something positive comes out, like a renewed focus on community building and public safety 
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and now that poor couple Blake and Melissa are facing a long road to recovery 
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. Broken ribs, a shoulder fracture, nose damage... that's no joke 
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