DA VANCE ANNOUNCES NEW INDICTMENT CHARGING SHAUN MARTIN WITH MURDER FOR EAST VILLAGE CRASH
On Thursday, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., announced the new charges against SHAUN MARTIN, 33, for crashing a car into the East Village Farm and Grocery Store last year while allegedly under the influence of drugs. One of the victims, Mohammed Akkas Ali, died as a result of injuries he suffered from the crash. MARTIN is now charged in New York State Supreme Court with Murder in the Second Degree, Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, Assault in the First Degree, Aggravated Vehicular Assault, Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree, Driving While Ability Impaired By Drugs, Driving While Ability Impaired By Combination of Drugs and Alcohol, Assault in the Third Degree, and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree.[1]
“The death of Mohammed Akkas Ali is a tragedy that could have been averted,” said District Attorney Vance. “This defendant is charged with seriously injuring multiple pedestrians, killing Mr. Ali, due to his extraordinarily reckless behavior. Intoxicated driving, whether by drugs or alcohol, is completely at odds with the prospect of making New York streets safe for pedestrians and drivers alike. My Office will continue to aggressively prosecute vehicular violence whenever supported by the evidence.”
According to documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court, MARTIN is charged with speeding through the East Village in a white Nissan Altima at approximately 6:50 a.m. on June 19, 2013, while impaired by phencyclidine, commonly referred to as PCP, and methamphetamine. The defendant allegedly cut across three lanes of traffic and drove onto the sidewalk. It is charged that he struck multiple objects including a fire hydrant, a pay phone, a muni-meter, and a tree, before crashing into a flower stand attached to the East Village Farm and Grocery Store at East 4th Street and Second Avenue. It is alleged that three of the deli’s employees were struck by the defendant and that one of those victims, Mohammed Akkas Ali, died as a result of injuries he suffered from the crash.
Assistant District Attorneys Harrison Schweiloch and Megan Joy are handling the prosecution of this case, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys John Wolfstaetter and Jill Hoexter, Co-Chiefs of the Vehicular Crimes Unit; William Mahoney, Chief of Trial Bureau 60; and Executive Assistant District Attorney John Irwin, Chief of the Trial Division. Assistant District Attorney James Lin assisted with the case. Trial Preparation Assistants John Everett and Rebecca Greene are also assisting with the case.
Defendant Information:
SHAUN MARTIN, D.O.B. 4/7/1981
Queens, NY
Charges:
- Murder in the Second Degree, a class A felony, 1 count
- Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, a class B felony, 2 counts
- Assault in the First Degree, a class B felony, 2 counts
- Aggravated Vehicular Assault, a class C felony, 4 counts
- Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree, a class D felony, 1 count
- Driving While Ability Impaired By Drugs, a class E felony, 2 counts
- Driving While Ability Impaired By Combination of Drugs and Alcohol, a class E felony, 1 count
- Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, a class A misdemeanor, 1 count
- Assault in the Third Degree, a class A misdemeanor, 1 count
[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.