Story by Ethan
On April 29th, 2025, the arrest of Denzel Brown and Marvin Dankwah, ages 29 and 26, was announced by Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. Denzel Brown and Marvin Dankwah were charged with first-degree Attempted Assault, first-degree Reckless Endangerment, first and second-degree Attempted Robbery, second-degree Attempted Murder, two counts of second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, and third-degree Unlawful Fleeing of a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle. The arrest and charges against Denzel Brown and Marvin Dankwah were a result of an investigation handled by the NYPD and the Queens District Attorney’s Office.
According to the Queens District Attorney’s Office, at approximately 6:30 a.m. on April 27th, 2026, both the defendants were driving inside of a gray Nissan Altima sporting a West Virginia license plate. They would end up stopping their vehicle right next to Officer Jason Matthew’s car, a green BMW, that was parked in front of Silvercup Studios on 45-25 21st in Long Island City, New York. Denzel Brown exited the Nissan while brandishing a gun in his waistband, then pulled on one of the door handles of the BMW and told Officer Jason Matthew “Get out of the car,”. The officer attempted to drive away when Denzel Brown pulled out his firearm and fired a single shot that hit the victim in his leg. Officer Jason Matthew managed to flee from the scene and arrive at a local hospital to be treated for his wounds. Responding officers from the NYPD recovered a .380-caliber shell casing near where the BMW was parked at the scene, as well as a .380-caliber bullet in Officer Jason Matthew’s front jeans pocket.
Later the same morning at approximately 7:40 a.m. a damaged grey Nissan was spotted driving recklessly on Grand Central Parkway near the Astoria Boulevard exit by NYPD patrol officers in a marked police vehicle. A pursuit after the Nissan was initiated with the vehicle allegedly speeding, causing other vehicles to swerve out of its way, drove through multiple red lights and stop signs, and finally collided with the police vehicle near 33-11 Leavitt Street in Flushing, New York. Both Denzel Brown and Marvin Dankwah exited the Nissan and attempted to flee on foot before the officers caught up and apprehended them.
The Queens District Attorney’s Office stated that the charges against Denzel Brown and Marvin Dankwah are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
