A group of criminals armed with firearms and hammers broke into a Queens house via a window and held a family of six captive early Saturday, authorities said.
The horrific incident occurred just before 2:30 a.m. in the area of Marathon Parkway and Cullman Avenue while the family was asleep, according to officials and witnesses.
The three masked men forcibly detained the home’s inhabitants – five adults and three children – and demanded to know where any money was located in the residence. Two of the suspects were carrying hammers, and one of them was reportedly brandishing a pistol. The homeowners reportedly gave the gang more than $10,000 in cash.
One of the women inside called 911 when the thieves broke in via a dining room window, but she swiftly hung up. Nevertheless, the fast outreach forced authorities to visit the residence and then call the number again, a source said.
Following a protracted manhunt in the area of the residence, police apprehended the three offenders. Two of the captives had minor injuries treatment at a nearby hospital.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Sunday that three defendants — Brandon Dash, 39, Ryan Dash, 34, and Jone Smith, 47 — were charged with six counts of kidnapping in the second degree, three counts of burglary in the first degree, two counts of robbery in the first degree, four counts of burglary in the second degree, three counts of robbery in the second degree, two counts of assault in the second degree, grand larceny in the third degree, three counts of
In the event of a conviction, the accused might spend up to 25 years behind bars.
