An East New York resident has been sentenced to up to nine years in prison for a 2023 vehicular homicide in Downtown Brooklyn. The Brooklyn District Attorney's Office announced that Kashawn Croswell, 28, received his sentence after being convicted in January of second-degree manslaughter among other charges, according to Brooklyn District Attorney's Office.
Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Jane Tully handed down an indeterminate term of three to nine years to Croswell, who, the investigation uncovered, tore through a Brooklyn intersection at 60 mph, running three red lights before striking another vehicle and killing 21-year-old Shanti Joyner. In the crash that unfolded at approximately 3:21 a.m. on August 18, 2023, two additional people suffered injuries—a 32-year-old with an ankle fracture and a 29-year-old with a wrist fracture. Croswell's girlfriend also incurred a spinal fracture and was later taken to an area hospital.
In a statement released by the District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, he pointed out the reckless nature of Croswell's actions: "This defendant made a series of reckless and deliberate decisions that had deadly consequences. By driving at high speeds and running red lights, he turned a Brooklyn intersection into a death trap." Gonzalez also stated, "A young mother lost her life, shattering her family, and today's sentence reflects the gravity of the harm he caused. My office will continue to hold accountable anyone who recklessly commits vehicular violence on our streets." Following the collision, Croswell was seen on video fleeing the scene with his injured girlfriend, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office.
The prosecution was led by Senior Assistant District Attorney Han Zhang and Assistant District Attorney Adriana Morquecho of the Street Safety Bureau. The Brooklyn District Attorney thanked Zoë Feygin of the KCDA Digital Evidence Lab and Assistant District Attorney Jingu Chong for their help in the case.
