A violent street takeover in the Queens neighborhood of Malba, New York City, has left a couple battered after officials called the incident a ‘planned attack.’ The event, which occurred on Sunday night, involved a group of drivers racing through residential streets, leading to chaos, property damage, and a car being torched. The neighborhood’s City Councilwoman, Vickie Paladino, condemned the NYPD’s response and highlighted the ongoing issue of criminal activity in the area.
The incident broke out around 12:30 a.m. Sunday, after a large group of drivers descended on South Drive and 141st Street in Malba. Video shared by Paladino shows the chaos as vehicles sped over residential lawns and performed donuts in the street. A private security guard named Larry Rusch reported hearing the commotion outside his home and discovered around 40 vehicles speeding through the street. In an attempt to defuse the situation, Rusch parked his vehicle in the intersection to block the drivers, only for a group to set his car on fire, sparking a new wave of violence.
Meanwhile, local resident Blake Ferrer was injured while defending his property from the rowdy group of drivers. He reportedly told The Post, ‘When I came out, I said, “Bro, you gotta get the f— off my property,” and that’s when it all started.’ The mob then turned their attention to Ferrer and his wife, leaving the man with a broken nose, shoulder, and ribs. A third resident also had objects thrown into his car during the incident.
Paladino criticized the NYPD’s response, stating that residents who called 911 were informed that a ‘quality of life team and 311 should handle the situation.’ The NYPD, however, claimed that an officer was quickly dispatched once the incident was upgraded to a higher priority. In response to the event, the NYPD announced plans to increase patrols in the area to ‘ensure this doesn’t happen again.’ Despite this, Paladino remains concerned about the lack of accountability and the city’s failure to address the rising tide of criminality.
The aftermath of the attack has left the neighborhood reeling, with extensive property damage and a palpable sense of fear among residents. Paladino, who represents the neighborhood, pointed to the scorched car and skid marks on the road as evidence of the scale of destruction. She stated, ‘At 12:30 a.m. last night, a hundred animals descended upon this neighborhood. Walk around and you will see the skid marks. But most important of all, I want you to take a look at this car. They actually set a car on fire, they terrorized this neighborhood.’ Her comments reflect a growing frustration with the city’s inability to control such incidents, which have been occurring with increasing frequency across the United States.
Paladino’s criticism was echoed by a local crime expert, who told Fox News that ‘nobody’s in control’ as chaotic street takeovers terrorize cities across the country. The expert added that organized crime rings are often behind such events, using minors to steal cars and conduct reckless stunts. This theory is supported by the recent incident in New Jersey, where a similar mob attack led to a police cruiser being torched, further illustrating the alarming trend of uncontrolled violence in urban areas.
The NYPD has acknowledged the incident and is implementing measures to increase patrols and combat such occurrences. However, the effectiveness of these measures remains under scrutiny, particularly given the police department’s previous response time issues. The department has pledged to ensure that such events do not recur, but residents like Paladino continue to call for stronger action and accountability. As the city grapples with these challenges, the incident in Malba serves as a stark reminder of the need for effective law enforcement and community engagement to prevent further violence and chaos.