NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- A man was convicted of the attempted murder and assault of a 6-year-old boy he picked up and slammed the pavement in Queens four years ago, the Queens D.A. announced Thursday.
Laurence Gendreau, 39, was convicted by a jury on Wednesday of attempted murder in the second degree, assault in the first degree, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, grand larceny in the fourth degree and criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree.
According to the charges, at approximately 4:45 p.m. on October 10, 2019, a 6-year-old boy was standing outside his grandparents’ Kew Gardens home along with his older brother waiting for a pizza delivery.
Gendreau, who was walking by, suddenly charged at the child, yelling at him.
He lifted the boy over his head and slammed him down onto the pavement.
Gendreau fled, leaving the child motionless on the ground. The boy’s brother ran inside and alerted his family.
His grandfather chased after Gendreau and flagged down a police officer.
Gendreau was stopped near Lefferts Boulevard and Metropolitan Avenue.
The boy was transported to the hospital where he was treated for a fractured skull, bleeding on the brain and a collapsed lung. He has since recovered.
According to officials earlier that same day, at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Union Turnpike in Kew Gardens, Gendreau approached an 83-year-old woman as she stood outside, sat next to her and then stole her iPad from her hands.
The stolen iPad was recovered from Gendreau at the time of his arrest following the attack on the boy.
"This senseless and brutal attack left a young boy seriously injured and a community shocked. We all deserve to feel safe in our homes and while walking the streets of our neighborhoods. The criminal justice system worked and we were able to take a dangerous man off the street," District Attorney Katz said.
Gendreau is set sentencing for October 12 and faces up to 25 years in prison.