NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – A fourth person was indicted on Friday on charges of kidnaping, robbery and burglary following a violent home invasion in Queens in August, prosecutors said.
Oneil Thompson, 45, who is alleged to have acted as a getaway driver for three men – Jone Smith and brothers Ryan and Brandon Dash – who were indicted and arraigned last month for allegedly strong-arming their way into the residence and holding a family hostage, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said.
According to court documents, on Aug. 17, three masked suspects, allegedly driven by Thompson in a large white van, forced their way into a home on Marathon Parkway near Cullman Avenue in Douglaston just before 2:30 a.m., terrorizing the five adults and three children inside. Thompson reportedly stayed behind in the van.
The victims included two adult men ages 72 and 43; three adult women ages 71, 44 and 40; and a 13-year-old boy, 10-year-old girl and 1-year-old girl.
The three suspects were armed with a gun and two hammers upon entry, according to the indictment. The 71-year-old woman was punched in the face and the 43-year-old man hit in the foot with a hammer, officials said, before the trio allegedly took them hostage along with the rest of the victims.
The trio inside the home demanded to know the location of any money in the house, according to court documents. One of the men allegedly brandished a gun, while two others displayed a hammer and a crowbar. More than $20,000 in cash was taken from the homeowners.
A mother escaped with her infant through a bathroom window and immediately called 911.
Around 2:30 a.m., video surveillance showed the white van's lights flickering on and off and Thompson exiting the driver's side door, while the three suspects remained inside the home, according to prosecutors.
Responding police officers found that three men, as well as four adult hostages and two children, remained inside the house. The masked trio were then seen climbing out of a window.
Police arrested the three men following an extensive manhunt near the house. Two of the hostages were taken to a local hospital for treatment of their injuries. The stolen money and a loaded firearm were recovered after the arrests.
"As alleged, this defendant knowingly and willingly participated in a deeply alarming home invasion that resulted in a family being held hostage with a loaded gun and two other weapons," Katz said. "Thanks to the courageous actions of a young mother, who fled the home with her infant to get help, and quick responding police officers, this incident did not end in greater tragedy. All those involved have now been apprehended and face justice in our courts for this attack."
Thompson, 45, was arraigned on a 41-count indictment charging him with seven counts of kidnapping, six counts of burglary, three counts of robbery, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, six counts of burglary, three counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and other related charges.
Thompson was remanded and ordered to return to court Nov. 20. If convicted, he faces a potential maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
