The grim threads of violence in our city drew tighter as two suspects have now been indicted following the heinous attack on an off-duty NYPD officer in the Bronx. A grand jury has charged Wayne Lucas, 23, and Taveon Hargrove, also 23, for their alleged roles in the brutal beating that occurred last month. Lucas, after being extradited from Virginia, stood before the court this morning to face the weight of the law's long arm, as reported by ABC7NY.
In a separate account by News12, Lucas appeared in Bronx court where he was charged with a slew of egregious offenses including attempted murder of a police officer, attempted robbery, attempted aggravated assault of an officer, and attempted criminal possession of a weapon, with these accusations stemming from an assault where Officer Chowdhury Nafees suffered an attack at knifepoint, resulting in the theft of his wallet, cellphone, and service weapon. Hargrove remains in Virginia currently where he resists the pull of extradition.
Details from both reports highlight the dramatic nature of the arrest. Lucas, wearing a wig in Richmond in an attempt to disguise himself, showed the desperation of someone trying to avoid capture—a scene that might seem pitiful if not for the seriousness of his alleged crimes. So far, representatives for the suspects have not made any statements, and their possible defense strategies remain unknown.
