Members of the Bengali community had gathered in the Unionport section of The Bronx to pray for Chowdhury, 48, following the brutal attack, in which he was beaten in broad daylight. Other armed carjacking gang members are also being sought for questioning in relation to at least 18 other incidents, including carjackings or attempted carjackings, in The Bronx and Queens. The local police commander of the 43rd Precinct, where Incident 19 occurred, said detectives had been on the case, and had vowed that the gang in question would be brought to justice.

 

Speaking at the Oldstead Avenue vigil, held on Thursday, Aug. 25, a few days after the brutal daylight attack on Chowdhury and steps away from where it took place, Inspector Keiyon Ramsey of the 43rd Precinct briefed members of the media and the community on Chowdhury’s condition as well as on the status of the investigation.

“We said we’d get the cowards responsible for preying on New Yorkers and our off-duty brother police officer — and this arrest is just the start. NYPD Detectives will go to the ends of the earth to ensure these criminals are brought to justice.” -DEA President Paul DiGiacomo pic.twitter.com/RYYh9Pq4dj

— Detectives' Endowment Association (@NYCPDDEA) August 27, 2022

Ramsey, who grew up in the area near P.O. Serrano Playground, named for Police Officer Hilario Serrano (1963-1992), who, on January 31, 1992, was in the elevator of his mother’s building on his way to a birthday party, when he became the victim of robbers’ gunfire. He was 29 years old. A 1993 Local Law officially changed the name of the property from Castle Hill Playground to Police Officer Hilario Serrano Playground.

 

The latest attack occurred in the vicinity of the same area. Ramsey told the crowd, “We’re not here because Mohammed Chowdhury is a police officer. We’re here because he’s a member of our community first. Him being a police officer had nothing to do with the way we treated him when we found him.”

 

Surveillance video released by the NYPD shows one assailant running up to the officer and tackling him to the ground, where Ramsey confirmed the officer struck his head on the sidewalk pavement.

 

Ramsey continued, “No one called 911 for this. You know how we found out about this? A community member told us what happened. An officer was right on that corner up there, and somebody flagged them down.” He added, “Officers flew right there and started to give aid.” Having had his wallet stolen during the attack, the victim’s identity as a police officer was unknown to police officials until Choudhury failed to show up for work at Manhattan’s Central Park stationhouse.

 

Ramsey vowed, “I want to assure everyone that as I speak to you right now, my detectives are out there canvassing for video. My detectives are combing the streets. We already know the outcome of this one… but I want to say it all started with the community letting us know what was going on, but the community is also doing other things helping us in our investigation.”

Video surveillance footage of two armed carjackers who stole a 2020 Mercedes Benz from a 29-year old victim on Lydig Avenue on Monday, August, 8. Video courtesy of the NYPD

 

Regarding Chowdhury’s condition, Ramsey said, “I went to see him yesterday; he’s doing much better. He was recognizing who I was as a police officer. He’s recognizing some of his officers. He has his wife by his side, and he has tremendous, tremendous support.”

 

The NYPD were already seeking to locate a gang suspected of the attack on Chowdhury in relation to a pattern of nine carjackings or carjacking attempts that had already taken place within the boundaries of the 45th and 49th Precincts in The Bronx, and in the 113th Precinct in Queens.

 

The 45th Precinct covers the northeastern section of The Bronx, encompassing Co-op City and City Island and a large area of parkland. The 49th Precinct also serves a northeastern portion of The Bronx, including Allerton, Morris Park, Van Nest, Pelham Parkway, Eastchester Gardens, and Pelham Gardens.

 

After Chowdhury’s attack, the NYPD added an additional nine attacks / carjackings for which the same gang are suspected, bringing the total number of incidents to 19. According to police, the gang would block male drivers behind the wheel of luxury vehicles like a BMW or a Mercedes Benz, at which point two or more assailants would then produce handguns and force the drivers out of their vehicles.

The NYPD is now asking for the public’s assistance identifying the people seen in the attached surveillance videos and photos regarding a citywide robbery pattern that has been identified within the boundaries of the 45th, 49th and 113th Precincts (the latter in Queens).

 

The first incident occurred on Monday, Aug. 1, at around 10.35 p.m. in front of 1657 Lurting Avenue in Morris Park, located in the 49th Precinct. Police said five people in a black Toyota Rav4 pulled up alongside a 35-year-old male victim as he was exiting his gray 2011 Hyundai Sonata, with NY plate #KTM-3587. They approached the victim with one of the group allegedly brandishing a knife and allegedly  punching the victim in the left eye. The group fled in the victim’s car and were last seen heading westbound on 115 Road towards Farmers Boulevard in Queens. Although the victim sustained pain to his head, he refused medical attention.

 

The second incident occurred on Friday, Aug. 5, at around 4.40 p.m. in front of 2768 Morgan Avenue in Pelham Gardens in The Bronx, also in the 49th Precinct, according to the NYPD. Three people in a gray Nissan SUV pulled up in front of and blocked a 51-year-old male victim who was inside his white 2020 BMW, with NY Plate #HUV1926, police said. Two of the three allegedly approached the victim displaying black firearms. They allegedly forced him out of his car and removed his iPhone 13 Pro Max cell phone, before fleeing in his car to parts unknown.

 

The third incident occurred on Sunday, Aug. 7, at around 9.50 p.m. in front of 2750 Latting Street in Schuylerville in The Bronx, in the 45th Precinct. Police said three people in a gray SUV pulled up in front of and blocked a 58-year-old male victim inside his black 2018 Mercedes Benz S-560. Two of the three assailants approached the victim allegedly displaying black firearms and allegedly ordered the victim out of his car. The victim refused, and drove home.

 

The fourth incident took place on Sunday, Aug. 7, at around 10.25 p.m. on Baychester Avenue between Co-op City Boulevard and Rombouts Avenue in the Co-Op City section of The Bronx, in the 45th Precinct, according to the NYPD. Police said a 44-year-old male victim was eating inside his 2012 BMW, with NY Plate #AZ-13032, when two people approached him. One allegedly displayed a black firearm, as the second said, “We need the car. We need the car.” The victim exited his vehicle and the group allegedly fled the location in the victim’s car. They were last seen heading northbound on Baychester Avenue

 

The fifth incident took place on Monday, Aug. 8, at around 4.50 p.m. in front of a residential building in the vicinity of 194th Street and 115th Road in Queens, in the 113th Precinct, according to the NYPD. Police said three people in a Toyota Highlander pulled up in front of a 52-year-old male victim. Two of the three exited their vehicle and one allegedly displayed a black firearm, as the second allegedly punched the victim in the head and forcibly removed his Samsung S22 cell phone, police said. The individuals fled in the grey Toyota Highlander and were last seen heading westbound on 115th Road towards Farmers Boulevard. Although the victim sustained pain to his head, he refused medical attention.

 

Incident 6 was also reported to have taken place on Monday, Aug. 8, a few hours later at 5.05 p.m. at the corner of Dormans Road and Newburg Street in Queens, also in the 113th Precinct. A 43-year-old male victim was sitting inside his gray 2017 Mercedes Benz, when two people allegedly approached him displaying black firearms and allegedly ordering him out of his car. The victim refused and drove away, and the group were last seen fleeing on foot westbound on Dormans Road, also in Queens.

 

The 7th incident took place on Monday, Aug. 8, at around 5.16 p.m. on the corner of Foch Boulevard and Merrick Boulevard in Queens, also in the 113th Precinct. Two people in a Toyota Highlander pulled up in front of a 69-year-old male victim who was inside his white 2018 Porsche, with NY Plate #KYS-9684. One of the two assailants exited their vehicle, allegedly displaying a black firearm and allegedly forced the victim out of his car. The assailants were last seen fleeing in the victim’s car heading westbound on Merrick Boulevard towards Jamaica Avenue in Queens.

 

Incident 8 occurred on Monday, Aug. 8, at around 11.35 p.m. in front of 1133 Lydig Avenue also in Morris Park, in the 49th Precinct, according to the NYPD. Police said a 29-year-old male victim driving a gray 2020 Mercedes Benz S-560, with NY plate KMK-1747, and a 29-year-old male victim driving a gray 2022 gray Honda Civic, had parked their cars, one in front of the other. Three people in a Toyota Rav4, parked nearby, exited their vehicle, allegedly displaying black firearms. They allegedly forced the two drivers out of their vehicles, before entering them and fleeing westbound on Lydig Avenue.

 

The ninth incident occurred on Tuesday, Aug. 9, at around 9.24 p.m. in front of 1811 Astor Avenue, also in Pelham Gardens in the 49th Precinct. According to police, a male victim was removing items from his white 2013 Mercedes Benz C-300 with NY plate #KLE-4357 when a dark gray SUV pulled up alongside him. Two people exited the vehicle and allegedly displayed black firearms. The victim, in fear for his safety, fled with the assailants giving chase. They allegedly pushed the victim to the ground and allegedly stole the victim’s [car] key, before entering his car. They were last seen heading westbound on Astor Avenue. The victim sustained a dislocated shoulder, EMS responded to the scene and transported him to NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, where he was treated and released.

 

The individuals are described as male, have thin builds, dark complexions, and were last seen wearing hooded sweatshirts and surgical masks. Video collected from Incident 8, showing the individuals sought is attached.

 

On Aug. 23, pursuant to an ongoing investigation, the NYPD said additional incidents had been added to the citywide robbery pattern.

 

They said, “At this time, there are approximately four individuals being sought.” They added, “On multiple occasions, three individuals approach a victim, while a fourth individual remains in the vehicle. The most commonly used vehicle in this pattern is a black Honda Sedan.

 

The tenth incident took place on Friday, Aug. 5, according to police, at around 1.04 a.m. in the vicinity of Caesar Place and Olmstead Avenue in the Castle Hill section of the borough. NYPD officials said two victims, a 26-year-old man and a 31-year-old man, were approached by a group of about three unknown to them. The assailants allegedly demanded the victims’ property, before punching both of them about the head. They then allegedly stole around $200 in cash from the 26-year-old victim and fled in a vehicle of an unknown description (possibly gray) in an unknown direction. Both victims sustained minor injuries, and did not require medical attention on scene.

 

Incident 11 was reported to police to have had occurred on Monday, Aug. 8, at around 10 p.m. in the vicinity of 1764 Westchester Avenue in Soundview. Police said a 37-year-old male victim had just parked his 2022 blue Mercedes Benz E350 to run into a nearby business, while a 31-year-old female family member remained in the passenger seat of the car.

 

While the woman was waiting in the car, an individual unknown to her opened the driver side door, entered the vehicle allegedly displayed a black firearm, and demanded that she exit the vehicle. The woman complied and the assailant fled in the Mercedes Benz northbound on Commonwealth Avenue. The vehicle was later recovered unoccupied in the vicinity of Castle Hill Avenue and East Tremont Avenue in Westchester Square. Neither victim sustained any physical injuries as a result of the incident.

 

Incident 12 was reported to police to have occurred on Tuesday, Aug. 16, at around 12.10 p.m. at the corner of Olmstead Avenue and Lafayette Avenue on the border of Castle Hill and Unionport. Police said a 29-year-old male was approached by a group of around three people unknown to him. One of them allegedly displayed a firearm and demanded the victim’s property. The others allegedly stole the victim’s cellphone and wallet, which contained some ID documents and a debit card. Police said the group were seen fleeing on foot on Olmstead Avenue to parts unknown, and the victim did not sustain any physical injuries.

 

The thirteenth incident was reported to police to have had occurred on Tuesday, Aug. 16, at around 12.15 p.m., in the vicinity of Olmstead Avenue and Virgil Place, also in Castle Hill. Police said two victims, a 67-year-old man and a 49-year-old man, were approached by a group of around three. They said at least one of the three allegedly displayed a firearm and demanded the victim’s property. The others allegedly stole property from both victims’ pockets. In total, it was estimated that the assailants stole at least two cellphones, identification documents and multiple credit/debit cards. According to police, they fled in an unknown vehicle that was last seen traveling eastbound on Castle Hill Avenue. The victims did not sustain any physical injuries as a result of the incident.

 

Incident 14 was reported to police to have had occurred on Monday, Aug. 22, at around 00.40 a.m., in front of 100 Dekruif Place, also in Co-op City. Police said a 52-year-old man working as a livery driver was answering a service call at the aforementioned location. There, two people known to him allegedly entered his vehicle. One allegedly displayed a firearm and demanded the victim exit the vehicle and turn over any property he had on his person.

 

A second vehicle of an unknown description then appeared and blocking the victim’s vehicle. A third individual then appeared, who also allegedly displayed a firearm. The victim complied and exited his vehicle, a 2016 black Honda Sedan. The assailants allegedly stole two cellphones belonging to the victim, multiple credit cards, around $500 in cash and a watch. They fled the scene in both the victim’s vehicle and in the second vehicle. Both were last seen fleeing towards Co Op City Boulevard, according to police. The victim suffered neck pain as a result of the incident, but did not require medical attention on scene.

 

Incident 15 was reported to police to have had occurred on Monday, Aug. 22, at around 6.45 a.m. at the corner of Barnes Avenue and Pelham Parkway South in Pelham Parkway. Police said a 39-year-old male victim was approached by a group of around three people,  unknown to him, who exited a black Honda Sedan. One of them allegedly held the victim from behind while another allegedly punched him about the face. The third individual allegedly stole the victim’s wallet containing identification documents, a debit card approximately $150. The individuals then fled into the black Honda sedan that fled in an unknown direction. The victim sustained minor injuries and did not require medical attention on scene.

 

Police said the sixteenth incident was reported to have also taken place on Monday, Aug. 22, shortly afterwards, at around 7.35 a.m. in front of 2112 Watson Avenue in Unionport. Police said a 55-year-old male victim was approached by a group of around three people unknown to him. One of them allegedly displayed a knife and demanded property, while another punched the victim about the face. The assailants allegedly stole the victim’s cellphone and wallet, which contained a debit card and around $25. The group fled in a black Honda sedan that was last seen travelling eastbound on Watson Avenue. The victim sustained minor injuries and did not require medical attention at the scene.

 

Police said Incident 17 was also reported to have had occurred on Monday, Aug. 22, around 15 minutes after Incident 16, at around 7.45 a.m., in front of 2353 Quimby Avenue also in Unionport. Police said a 36-year-old male victim was approached by a group of around three people unknown to him, who exited a black Honda sedan. One of them allegedly displayed a knife while the others allegedly stole his cellphone and wallet, which contained identification documents and around $40 in cash.

 

During the incident, the victim sustained a laceration to his elbow from the knife while attempting to flee to safety. The group fled in the black Honda sedan which was last seen travelling northbound on Zerega Avenue. EMS responded and treated the victim at the scene for his injury.

 

 

The eighteenth incident was reported to police to have also occurred on Monday, Aug. 22, at around 7.45 a.m., also in front of 2353 Quimby Avenue in Unionport. Two victims, a 32-year-old woman and a 48-year-old man, were approached by a group of around three people, unknown to them. One allegedly displayed a knife, while the others allegedly stole the woman’s purse which contained multiple debit cards, approximately $1,000 in cash and some identification documents. The group fled in a black Honda sedan which was last seen travelling northbound on Zerega Avenue. The victim did not sustain any physical injuries as a result of the incident.

 

Incident 19, which involved Choudhury, was reported to police to have had taken place on Tuesday, Aug. 23, at around 10.50 a.m. opposite of 823 Olmstead Avenue, also in Unionport, when an initial report was provided to police. Additional information on the incident was retrieved by police on Aug. 24.

 

Police said the 48-year-old male victim was jogging at the location when he was approached by around three people, who were unknown to him. They allegedly struck the victim repeatedly about the head, allegedly stole his cellphone, car keys and wallet, which contained multiple forms of identification and debit/credit cards. The group fled the location in a black Honda sedan driven by a fourth person. The vehicle was last seen travelling westbound on Turnbull Avenue. EMS responded and transported the victim to NYC Health and Hospitals/Jacobi in critical but stable condition. The victim sustained a fractured skull and brain bleeding as a result of the incident. It is unclear at this time if any property was stolen from the victim.

 

Norwood News had also received unconfirmed reports of three possible further carjackings – one on Aug. 15 at around 10.30 p.m. at East 211th Street and Bronx Boulevard in Williamsbridge, reportedly involving a black 2006 Audi A6 with a Connecticut license plate, AU2588, which was reportedly taken at gunpoint, and was last seen fleeing northbound on Bronx Boulevard.

 

We arrived at the location at around 11.25 p.m. at which point, there was no sign of any incident. We spoke to a group of male residents who had gathered together and were socializing further up the hill on 211th street, and asked them if they had seen the reported carjacking. Speaking in Spanish, they said they had noticed police presence further down the street (at the pictured location) earlier that night but had not realized why they were there. They said they did not see any carjacking take place, but added that it might have occurred before they arrived out on the street.

 

In the meantime, on Aug. 26, the NYPD confirmed the veracity of this carjacking, saying that on Monday, Aug. 15, at approximately 10.25 p.m., in the vicinity of Bronx Boulevard and East 211th Street, in the 47th Precinct, a 22-year-old female parked her 2006 Audi A6 at the aforementioned location. ‘Shortly after, two unknown individuals approached the victim and demanded property,” police said. “One of the individuals then displayed a firearm and proceeded to forcibly remove the victim’s car keys. The individuals then entered the victim’s vehicle and fled in the vehicle in an unknown direction.”

 

They said the victim did not sustain any physical injuries as a result of the incident, there are no arrests, and the investigation remains ongoing. They added that the vehicle was later recovered unoccupied. Police said it was unknown at what time, date or location the vehicle was recovered.

 

On Aug. 16 at around 9.20 p.m. at 4188 Barnes Avenue, also in Williamsbridge, we received another unconfirmed report of a carjacking at gunpoint, reportedly involving a 2012 Black Mercedes with a New York City plate, KTN3868, which reportedly fled eastbound on E 233rd Street. When contacted about the incident, the NYPD confirmed it did take place, saying that on Tuesday, Aug. 16, at around 9.15 p.m., in front of 4188 Barnes Avenue, in the 47th Precinct, a 45-year-old male was parking his 2012 Mercedes Benz C300 at the location when two individuals, unknown to him, approached his vehicle.

 

“One of the individuals displayed a firearm while demanding that the victim exit his vehicle,” police said. “The two unknown individuals entered the vehicle and fled the location in an unknown direction. Inside of the vehicle was the victim’s cellphone, credit debit/cards and identification documents. The victim did not sustain any injuries as a result of this incident,” police added.

 

On Aug. 20, at around 6.20 a.m., we received another unconfirmed report of another carjacking, reportedly at knifepoint, at East 187th Street and Crotona Avenue. When we checked this incident with the NYPD on Aug. 26, they confirmed that it did also occur, saying, that it was reported to police that on Saturday, Aug. 20, at approximately 6.05 a.m., in front of 644 East 187th Street, in the 48th Precinct, a 57-year-old male left his vehicle unattended with the keys in the ignition in front of the location.

 

“An unknown individual entered the victim’s vehicle (a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500) without authorization to do so and drove off in it towards the Macombs Dam Bridge,” police said. “No injuries were reported as a result of this incident.”

 

A person arrested and charged with a crime is deemed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.

 

Anyone with information regarding any of the listed incidents is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, on Twitter @NYPDTips.

 

All calls are strictly confidential.

 

Editor’s Note: In an earlier version of this story, it was mentioned that two people were arrested for the assault on Chowdhury. In fact, it was just one young male. We apologize for this error.