Story by Ethan
On January 29th, 2026, the arrest of Moustafa Taher, age 21, was announced by Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. Moustafa Taher was charged with second-degree Assault, second-degree Reckless Endangerment, third-degree Falsely Reporting an Incident, two counts of third-degree Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting, Tampering with Physical Evidence, Reckless Driving, two counts of Operating or Driving a Motor Vehicle Without a License, two counts of Failing to Obey a Traffic Control Device, Failing to Stop at a Steady Red Signal, Operating a Vehicle at an Unreasonable Speed, Driving in Excess of the Maximum Speed Limit, and Failing to Stop at a Sign. The arrest and charges against Moustafa Taher were a result of an investigation handled by Detective Edward Behringer of the NYPD Collision Investigation Squad along with the District Attorney’s Vehicular Homicide Unit.
According to the Queens District Attorney’s Office, at approximately 5:44 p.m. on November 18th, 2023, Moustafa Taher was driving northbound at a high rate of speed in a 2022 Volkswagen Atlas SUV on 29th Street in Astoria, New York. It was noted that this vehicle was brandishing New Jersey license plates. While driving Moustafa Taher allegedly flew through several steady red lights, one of them being on Broadway where the victim was struck. The collision occurred when the victim, 26-year-old Deivy Lemus Bustamante, was driving a 2023 Yamaha motorcycle westbound on Broadway with the right of way. The crash flung the victim off of his motorcycle before landing on the opposite corner of the street. Deivy Lemus Bustamante was transported to a local hospital to be treated for severe trauma to his torso and head, as well as a cervical spine fracture that left him unable to walk without a cane for assistance. Following the collision Moustafa Taher continued to head northbound on 29th Street, not stopping to render aid or call emergency services for Deivy Lemus Bustamante. The impact left debris from the defendant’s car scattered at the scene, including one of the license plates. Following an investigation the vehicle involved was found abandoned in the area of the Brooklyn Queens Expressway in Woodside, New York. It’s alleged that after abandoning the vehicle Moustafa Taher walked away to join another individual driving away in an SUV.
At approximately 6:46 p.m. Moustafa Taher called 911 to report the aforementioned Volkswagen as stolen from a vicinity in Astoria, New York, between 19th Street and 45th Street. The damaged vehicle with a missing license plate was located and recovered in the area of the Brooklyn Queens Expressway and was found to have been rented by Moustafa Taher’s mother several hours earlier that day. The vehicle’s data recorder revealed that it was traveling at 43 miles per hour down 29th street, the speed limit being 25 miles per hour in that area. It was uncovered that Moustafa Taher’s drivers license was suspended previously three times and he was legally not allowed to operate any vehicles.
The Queens District Attorney’s Office stated that the charges against Moustafa Taher are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
