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19-Year-Old Arrested After Viral Queens Street Takeover Leaves Couple Beaten and Car Torched

04:28 AM, 12/06/2025
19-Year-Old Arrested After Viral Queens Street Takeover Leaves Couple Beaten and Car Torched

New York authorities arrested 19-year-old Justin Aguilera after a viral video showed an illegal street takeover in Malba, Queens, during which about 40 vehicles performed donuts, fireworks were set off and a neighbor’s car was set ablaze. A couple was attacked in their front yard; the man suffered a broken nose, shoulder injury and broken ribs. Aguilera faces charges including gang assault, riot, assault and trespassing after being identified following a separate arrest for driving with a suspended license. Officials say the primary stunt vehicle was seized and investigators are tracking additional persons of interest while exploring infrastructure changes to prevent future takeovers.

Arrest Made After Violent Street Takeover in Malba, Queens

New York City authorities have arrested 19-year-old Justin Aguilera in connection with a widely shared video of an illegal street takeover in the Malba neighborhood of Queens that left a couple injured and a neighbor’s vehicle on fire.

City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino said Aguilera faces multiple charges, including gang assault, riot, assault and trespassing. The incident occurred at about 12:30 a.m. on Nov. 23, when roughly 40 vehicles reportedly converged on a residential block to perform dangerous stunts.

Video Description: Footage from the scene shows dozens of cars doing donuts in the street, fireworks being set off and at least one neighbor’s vehicle engulfed in flames. The chaotic footage also captures a large group of people attacking a couple in their front yard.

“This is not over,” Paladino said, adding that investigators are continuing to track additional persons of interest and that more action will follow.

Local residents who tried to intervene described the scene as terrifying. Private security guard Larry Rusch told reporters he discovered about 40 vehicles racing through the neighborhood; he said he parked a car at an intersection to block the drivers, but two people then approached and appeared to ignite his vehicle with a firework, reigniting the disorder.

Another resident, Blake Ferrer, says he and his wife were attacked after he came outside to defend his property. Police say the male victim sustained a broken nose, a shoulder injury and broken ribs.

Investigators were ultimately able to identify Aguilera as the "main assault perpetrator" after he was arrested hours later on an unrelated charge of driving with a suspended license, which provided leads used to match him to the takeover footage. Officials also recovered what they described as the primary stunt vehicle allegedly used in the takeover.

Aguilera was scheduled to be arraigned in Queens. The NYPD is continuing its investigation and has not immediately commented on the case. Paladino said she will work with the Department of Transportation and the NYPD to consider infrastructure and safety measures to deter similar illegal street takeovers.

Key Developments: Arrest made; main stunt vehicle seized; additional persons of interest being tracked; officials exploring preventative measures.

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