Photo Courtesy of Google
When the group disembarked from the vehicle near the intersection of Beach 54th Street and Arverne Boulevard, they refused to pay the ride fare and the group ran away in different directions.
By Forum Staff
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Austin Amos, 20, and Nickolas Porter,
20, have been charged with gang assault and manslaughter related to a fatal attack on a 52-year-old taxi driver in Far Rockaway, Queens last Saturday. The defendants are accused of repeatedly punching and kicking the victim after he confronted them for an unpaid fare on August 13, 2022. Two juvenile females, one still unapprehended, also allegedly participated in the deadly incident.
Amos, of Beach 56 Place in Arverne is pending arraignment in Queens Criminal Court on a six-count complaint charging him with gang assault in the first and second degrees, manslaughter in the first and second degrees, assault in the second degree and theft of services. If convicted, Amos faces up to 25 years in prison.
Porter, of Hassock Street in Far Rockaway, Queens, is pending arraignment in Queens Criminal Court on charges of gang assault in the second degree and theft of services. If convicted, Porter faces up to 15 years in prison.
File Photo
DA Katz said emergency medical responders transported the victim to a local hospital where he died from blunt force trauma injuries to his head.
According to the complaint, on Aug. 13, at approximately 6:24 a.m. defendants Amos and Porter were passengers with three juvenile females in the yellow minivan taxi of the victim Kutin Gyimah. When the group disembarked from the vehicle near the intersection of Beach 54th Street and Arverne Boulevard, they refused to pay the ride fare and the group ran away in different directions.
Gyimah pursued them on foot and caught up to one of the females. Video surveillance footage shows the victim and that unapprehended female became involved in a struggle. Amos circled back to Gyimah and punched him multiple times causing the victim to fall to the ground. Amos, Porter and two of the females, one still unapprehended, then surrounded Gyimah allegedly punching and kicking the victim repeatedly as he lay on the pavement.
Continuing, said the DA, Gyimah attempted to regain his footing. When he stood, defendant
Amos stepped forward and allegedly punched Gyimah twice in the face causing him to fall back and hit his head on the pavement. The entire group—Amos, Porter and the three females—then left Gyimah motionless on the ground.
DA Katz said emergency medical responders transported the victim to a local hospital where he died from blunt force trauma injuries to his head.
