(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced the indictment of 16-year-old Christopher Hernandez, who is charged with two counts of Attempted Murder, two counts of Assault, one count of Reckless Endangerment and two counts of Leaving the Scene of an Accident Involving Personal Injury after he allegedly intentionally hit two victims with his car in two separate incidents, which were followed by a third motor vehicle crash in which the defendant was injured.
“It is alleged that this defendant sought out his two victims and used his vehicle to intentionally strike them as they walked defenselessly on the streets of Brentwood,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Accidentally striking a pedestrian is bad enough, but using your car as a weapon to intentionally harm others is outrageous and will not be tolerated.”
According to the investigation, on December 9, 2022, Hernandez was driving a 1996 Honda Civic on Third Street in Brentwood when – on two separate occasions – he intentionally struck two victims who were walking on the opposite side of the street. It is alleged that the 16-year-old driver intentionally sought out the victims, and when he found them, made a U-turn on Third Street and proceeded to drive on the wrong side of the road to intentionally hit both victims. Hernandez was allegedly traveling at a high rate of speed at the time he struck the victims, and only came to a stop after crashing into another motorist’s vehicle at the intersection of Third Avenue after striking the two victims.
The impact caused the first victim to be thrown approximately 30 feet before landing in the yard of a residential home. That victim suffered a compound fracture to his leg. The second victim was then struck and thrown approximately 40 feet before landing on the opposite sidewalk. That victim suffered two broken shoulders, as well as a broken wrist. Both victims were taken to the hospital.
During the course of the investigation, the Suffolk County Police Department collected surveillance footage from the area, which captured the collisions with both pedestrians as well as the collision at the intersection of Third Street and Third Avenue.
On January 5, 2023, the defendant was arraigned in front of Family Court Judge, the Honorable Karen Kerr who ordered bail set in the amount of $350,000 cash, $750,000 bond, and $1.5 million partially secured bond. The defendant is represented by Jeremy Scileppi, Esq.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Sean Buckley and Kieran Rogers of the Major Crime Bureau.