A 32-year-old man is in critical condition following a carjacking incident in the Bronx, where he was dragged down the street while trying to prevent his vehicle from being stolen. As per ABC7 New York, the episode began with the victim's black Infiniti sedan being double-parked on Wilkinson Avenue.
The driver exited his car, leaving the engine running, to step into a nearby restaurant. Surveillance footage captured a suspect exiting an SUV and slipping into the driver's seat of the Infiniti. In a desperate move to save his property, the owner clung to the driver's side door and was dragged as the carjacker sped away. "The car was speeding like crazy," witness William Balgobin told ABC7 New York.
Eventually, the victim was crushed against several parked cars when the stolen Infiniti collided with them. The scene left him with severe injuries, as he was also hit by the SUV that the suspect had initially alighted from. The victim, who sustained critical head and leg injuries, was rushed to Jacobi Hospital for treatment. According to the New York Post, law enforcement sources say the car was later found abandoned under the Pelham Parkway exit off the Hutchinson River Parkway, showing substantial damage.
Earlier this month, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that the Bronx may be viewed as a target for car theft due to what she described as the borough's approach to prosecution under District Attorney Darcel Clark. According to reports from the New York Post, the Bronx reported a 3.6% increase in stolen vehicles, while the city overall saw a 12% decrease. In response, the district attorney's office noted the challenges involved in turning police charges into convictions in court.
No arrests have been made in connection with the theft and assault involving the Bronx man. The vehicle’s key FOB was left inside when the victim first exited the car, which may have contributed to the theft. The NYPD is continuing its investigation and is requesting information regarding the suspect’s location.
