Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney has announced the indictment of Matthew Mitchell, a 20-year-old Brooklyn resident, for charges including Assault in the Second Degree. The charges stem from an incident where Mitchell allegedly struck a 19-year-old woman while performing amateur car stunts.
"Real life is not The Fast and the Furious," stated District Attorney Tierney. "Earlier this month, a group of wannabe racecar drivers from outside of Suffolk County thoughtlessly took over a number of our roadways, endangering lives, harassing our citizens, and even preventing an ambulance from passing."
Tierney emphasized the role of law enforcement in quickly apprehending the suspect. "Thanks to the quick work by Suffolk County Police, this alleged criminal driver has now been indicted," he said. He further warned others against engaging in similar activities: "These charges should serve as a warning to anyone who might think about engaging in similar conduct in Suffolk County. We will not stop until you are held responsible for your thoughtless and dangerous criminal conduct."
The incident occurred on October 6, 2024, at around 1:15 a.m., when vehicles and people gathered at Gateway Plaza in Patchogue to participate or watch car stunts like “doughnuts” and drifting. Similar activities were reported throughout Suffolk and Nassau counties that night.
Witnesses captured these events on social media, including footage showing Mitchell's white Infiniti striking the victim as she stood observing the maneuvers. After hitting her with his vehicle's side, Mitchell allegedly fled before police arrived. The victim was later taken to a local hospital by a friend and treated for serious injuries including a fractured femur and pelvis.
The investigation into other individuals involved in these activities is ongoing.