Story by Ethan
On September 19th, 2025, the arrest of Joshua Brito, age 33, was announced by Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark. Joshua Brito was charged with two counts of first-degree Assault, two counts of second-degree Assault, first-degree Vehicular Assault, two counts of second-degree Vehicular Assault, four counts of third-degree Vehicular Assault, first-degree Reckless Endangerment, second-degree Reckless Endangerment, three counts of Operating a Vessel While Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs, violation of the Navigation Law Manning of Public Vessels, violation of the Navigation Law Licenses, and Reckless Operation of a Vessel. The arrest and charges against Joshua Brito were a result of an investigation handled by the NYPD Harbor Unit, especially Police Officers Brian Lauler and Peter Whitelaw, Detective Kevin Wallace of the NYPD Highway Collision Investigation Squad, FDNY Firefighters Eric Falk and Kelly Lyons of the FDNY Marine Unit, Supervisor of Waterfront and Marine Operations Emil Pape of the NYC Parks Department, and Lieutenant Commander Shawn Karasevicz of the United States Coast Guard, Sector New York.
According to the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, a 36-foot boat for hire was being operated by Joshua Brito between the hours of 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on June 7th, 2025. The boat was occupied by twenty two passengers celebrating a family birthday, first taking off when the passengers met Joshua Brito and boarded the boat at the World’s Fair Marina in Flushing, Queens, New York. The boat pathed northwards along the Long Island south, before it caught fire off the coast of Heart Island and City Island. The boat exploded and forced all passengers to jump off the ship. Personnel from the New York City Fire Department responded to the scene on the report of the explosion and a drowning woman, who was given CPR and life-saving care before being transported to a nearby hospital. Another male passenger who jumped off the boat had suffered second and third degree burns, requiring skin grafts to treat his injuries. Allegedly Joshua Brito had been seen drinking alcohol throughout the trip while operating the boat, and he had profited $3,000 from the trip.
The Bronx District Attorney’s Office stated that the charges against Joshua Brito are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
