Brooklyn Man Charged in Senseless, Savage Shooting Spree

By Michael V. Cusenza

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Monday that Thomas Abreu has been charged with murder, attempted murder, assault and weapon possession in a Saturday morning shooting spree that killed an 86-year-old man and injured three others in Queens and Brooklyn.

Abreu, 25, of Brooklyn, is awaiting arraignment on a complaint charging him with murder in the second degree, four counts of attempted murder in the second degree, two counts of assault in the first degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.

According to the timeline of alleged events and the charges:

• On June 8, at approximately 11:10 a.m., Abreu was observed on video surveillance on Ashford Street and Arlington Avenue in Brooklyn driving a scooter and wearing a green shirt. He shot a pedestrian in the back.

• Approximately 16 minutes later, on 108th Street and Jamaica Avenue in Richmond Hill, Abreu was again observed by video surveillance, and by an eyewitness, wearing a green shirt as well as a fanny pack on his shoulder. He approached 86-year-old Hamod Saeidi and shot him in the back. Saeidi was rushed to the hospital where he later died.

• Approximately one minute later, at the same location, Abreu fired at a pedestrian walking on the sidewalk. The shooting was again observed on video surveillance and by an eyewitness. The pedestrian was not injured.

• Moments later, video surveillance captured Abreu on 126th Street and Hillside Avenue. He pulled up next to a parked minivan and shot the driver once in the head. The victim was taken to the hospital.

• Abreu was also seen on video surveillance at approximately 11:36 a.m. at the intersection of 131st Street and Jamaica Avenue, in the same green shirt. He rode past someone else on a scooter and fired at him. The person was not injured.

• Approximately one minute later, Abreu was observed on video surveillance on 134th Street and Jamaica Avenue. He approached a pedestrian who was crossing the street and shot the victim in the shoulder. The victim was also taken to the hospital.

• Abreu was arrested at approximately 1 p.m. after NYPD officers saw him at Sutphin Boulevard and Archer Avenue riding his scooter wearing a green shirt and fanny pack. He was apprehended after a short foot pursuit.

• Police recovered a pistol.

On Tuesday evening, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. organized a vigil on “Another day, another example of an everyday activity becoming a life-and-death endeavor in America. This time, it was a beloved senior right here in Richmond Hill who was killed for having the audacity to take a simple Saturday stroll through the community he called home for decades,” said Borough President RICHARDS. “Queens’ collective heart breaks for Mr. Saeidi’s family and friends, and we’re pray that our three neighbors wounded in this shooting spree make full physical, mental and emotional recoveries. Join us tonight as we uplift Richmond

Hill and all those impacted by Saturday’s events.

“We’ve made significant progress as a city in reducing shooting incidents, addressing our mental health crisis and draining the tributaries that feed the river of gun violence our society has been swimming through,” added Borough President RICHARDS. “But Saturday’s shootings show us there is so much more to be done. Tonight, we come together to mourn, but also to recommit ourselves to the work ahead.”

After wounding a 21-year-old in Brooklyn minutes earlier, the alleged gunman riding an illegal scooter shot and killed Saeidi as he walked down Jamaica Avenue, callously ending the life of a cherished member of the Richmond Hill community. The suspect, who has since been charged with murder among other crimes, would go on to shoot a 44-yearold man in the head on Hillside Avenue and a 63-year-old man in the shoulder on Jamaica Avenue, seriously wounding both, before being apprehended, Richards noted.

“I applaud the 102nd Precinct, the NYPD and everyone involved in the swift apprehension of a shooter who shot five people in Brooklyn and Queens today,” City Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) said on Saturday. “Our prayers are with the families of the victims.”

“The streets of two boroughs were turned into scenes of terror as this defendant allegedly rode his scooter, shooting indiscriminately at pedestrians and others. Thank you to the NYPD for quickly apprehending the suspect. My office will hold him fully accountable and seek justice for the victims,” Katz said.

If convicted, Abreu faces 25 years to life in prison.

Meng Urges USPS to Prioritize Queens’ Mail Theft Problem

By Forum Staff

Congresswoman Grace Meng (DFlushing) announced on Monday that she recently sent a letter to Louis DeJoy, Postmaster General and CEO of the United States Postal Service (USPS), urging the agency to prioritize Queens in its newly announced effort to combat mail theft, and further secure green relay boxes throughout the borough.

The Postal Service’s new Joint Project Safe Delivery is an initiative unveiled in May that features expanded crime prevention measures to crack down on the theft of mail. It includes replacing tens of thousands of keys used by letter carriers, installing high security collection boxes and implementing other important upgrades. The plan also seeks to enhance employee safety and strengthen consumer protections. It was announced after Meng called for more to be done to address mail theft.

“My constituents deserve peace of mind that their correspondence, money, important information and documents will be safe while it moves through our mail system,” said Meng. “I have led efforts to make sure that mail is protected, and I hope that my letter to the Postmaster General will help ensure that Queens will benefit from this latest initiative, especially when it comes to green relay boxes. Like many places around the country, Queens has struggled with mail theft, and our borough should be prioritized.

Over the past year, Meng has asked the Postal Service to address mail theft after receiving complaints from constituents. These include thieves stealing and altering their checks for thousands of dollars and stealing their personal information that has resulted in financial fraud.

The congresswoman sent letters to postal officials in July and December of 2022.

She also introduced legislation earlier this year to strengthen the Postal Service’s ability to go after criminal organizations driving the theft of mail.

In her missive to DeJoy, Meng wrote, “According to the USPS, the Joint Project Safe Delivery initiative will reduce mail theft and letter carrier robberies through updated electronic locks, a plan to reduce counterfeit postage, and increased security for blue collection boxes. I commend the USPS and the USPIS for these initial steps in improving mail security, however, the plan does not specify if these security upgrades would be made available for green relay boxes.

“As you know, the USPS utilizes green relay boxes, unique to densely populated urban areas, to help postal carriers manage the distribution of letters. These relay boxes are essential to the delivery of mail in my district, yet they remain susceptible to theft. In 2022, there were over 1,000 instances of mail theft reported to the USPS by my constituents, totaling nearly half a million in lost mail with none of it recovered. These losses are devastating for the Queens community, not only is money and other valuables lost, but identities are stolen and important medications are never received.

“In light of this, as the USPS continues to increase efforts to crack down on mail theft, I encourage you to prioritize communities in Queens and the inclusion of secure green relay boxes in your response initiative. I also urge the USPS to continue to update the public on the steps included in the Joint Project Safe Delivery and provide more detailed updates on its progress to combat mail theft. I thank the USPS for escalating steps to combat mail theft in the country, but I assure you, more needs to be done to restore my constituent’s trust in the postal system. “