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“This was… another tragic example of the mayhem and heartache caused by easy access to illegal guns,” DA Katz said.
By Forum Staff
A Bay Ridge, Brooklyn man has been indicted by a borough grand jury for allegedly shooting a 17-year-old boy in Corona, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz recently announced.
Dennis Vassilenko, 18, has been charged on a three-count indictment with murder in the second degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. Vassilenko has been ordered to return to court on Oct. 8.
Stephanie Pena, 20, also of Bay Ridge, was arraigned on Thursday Sept. 9 on the same indictment that charges her with first- and second-degree hindering prosecution and obstructing governmental administration. Pena’s return date is also Oct. 8.
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Vassilenko and the victim were observed walking together toward 95-48 40th Rd. when Vasselinko allegedly pulled out a firearm and shot him twice in the torso.
According to the charges, on July 7, Vassilenko and Pena are both observed on surveillance video exiting a black SUV parked near 96th Street and Roosevelt Avenue in Corona. Shortly thereafter they are observed walking with the victim, 17-year-old Eduardo Hernandez-Martinez and after a few minutes the defendants and the victim go their separate ways.
Vassilenko and Hernandez-Martinez are subsequently observed walking together again toward 95-48 40th Rd. when Vasselinko allegedly pulls out a firearm and shoots the victim twice in the torso.
Vassilenko then allegedly ran to the same black SUV from earlier, which was parked across the street from where the shooting occurred, entered the backseat, and the car was driven away from the scene.
Hernandez-Martinez was taken to a nearby hospital where he later died from the injuries.
“This was a brutal killing of a teenager—another tragic example of the mayhem and heartache caused by easy access to illegal guns. The defendant in this case will face justice in our courts—along with the co-defendant who allegedly aided him in his escape from the scene,” Katz said.
If convicted, Vassilenko faces up to 25 years to life in prison. If convicted, Pena faces up to 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison.
