Queens drag racing turns violent with couple assaulted on their lawn, car set on fire
Dozens of drivers descended on a residential block in Queens this weekend for a chaotic meetup that turned violent — and residents say police were slow to respond to the disruption despite multiple 911 calls.
The incident unfolded around midnight Saturday near the intersection of 141st Street and 11th Avenue in Malba, a quiet area of tree-lined streets just off the Whitestone Bridge. NYPD officials said about 50 cars were drag racing on the block, and some of their occupants wreaked havoc, igniting fireworks and breaking glass bottles.
Authorities said some of the participants eventually set an empty Ford Fusion sedan on fire in the middle of the street, triggering an FDNY response to put out the flames. A couple on the block said they were attacked when they stepped outside their home to confront the raucous crowd on their lawn.
“ I think everybody on the block was calling 911 … and I just don't think that they got here fast enough” said Melissa Ferrer, 50.
“I think that probably the firemen were here first before the police,” Ferrer said.
The widely shared videos show multiple people in hoodies and face masks repeatedly kicking and punching 50-year-old Blake Ferrer, Melissa’s husband, until he fell to the ground, while she tries to push some of the others away. Two of the assailants were swinging large black flags, and Blake was holding a baseball bat to defend himself, the videos show.
