Story by Ethan
On August 6th, 2025, the arrest of Autumn Romero and Kennedy Lecraft, ages 23 and 22, was announced by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr.. Autumn Romero was charged with first-degree Vehicular Manslaughter, second-degree Murder, second-degree Manslaughter, second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, third-degree Criminal Possession of Stolen Property, Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, and Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting. Kennedy Lecraft was charged with second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, third-degree Criminal Possession of Stolen Property, and third-degree Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle. The arrest and charges against Autumn Romero and Kennedy Lecraft were a result of an investigation handled by NYPD Officer Robyn Camacho of the 5th Precinct, and Detectives Ronny Velez and Ramon Pina of the Highway Collision Investigation Squad.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, at approximately 7:20 a.m. on July 19th, 2025, Autumn Romero was driving a stolen vehicle that was initially rented by Kennedy Lecraft. Autumn Romero was driving at a high rate of speed on the Manhattan Bridge, while a Kevin Cruickshank was riding a bike on the sidewalk approaching the bridge and a May Kwok was sitting on a bench at the intersection of Canal and Bowery Street. Allegedly the defendant was driving over 100 miles per hour when she struck both Kevin Cruickshank and May Kwok. Kevin Cruickshank was launched off his bike and flew across the intersection while May Kwok was thrown from the bench at a high rate of impact. Both victims suffered from severe internal and external injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene when first responders arrived. After striking both victims the vehicle Autumn Romero was operating ended up crashing into a parked NYPD auxiliary van and rammed it across the Canal and Bowery Street intersection. After the vehicle became stationary both defendants got out of the vehicle and sat on the curb for several minutes before trying to access the trunk, however they fled once EMTs began to arrive on the scene. Bystanders attempted to stop Autumn Romero and Kennedy Lecraft from leaving the scene as they walked towards Helster Street and Elizabeth Street, however police quickly located and arrested them after multiple callers alerted them about the defendants’ exact whereabouts. Officers conducted a search warrant on the stolen vehicle and recovered a bottle of alcohol, two operable firearms, and ammunition for said firearms.
The Attorney General’s Office stated that the charges against Autumn Romero and Kennedy Lecraft are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
