Photo Courtesy of Google
The victim was shot on Thursday afternoon as he worked at the Rockaway Express Deli.
By Forum Staff
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Friday that a man has been charged in connection with Thursday’s bizarre shooting in a South Ozone Park deli.
Donnie Hudson, 35, was arraigned Thursday night on a criminal complaint charging him with attempted murder in the second degree, assault in the first degree, four counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, four counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree and two counts of criminal possession of a firearm.
According to the charges, at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Hudson entered the Rockaway Express Deli on Rockaway Boulevard and confronted Fahmi Kaid, 47, who was working behind the counter. Hudson pointed a gun at Kaid and fired three shots, striking him once in the head.
Hudson left the store and returned immediately afterward brandishing an assault rifle, which he fired multiple times at Kaid, as the clerk lay stricken on the floor.
Photo Courtesy of Google
Hudson was arrested a few blocks from the deli, on 114th Street near 135th Avenue.
Hudson was arrested at approximately 6:53 p.m. a few blocks from the deli, on 114th Street near 135th Avenue. Officers recovered a .40-caliber Smith and Wesson pistol with an empty magazine, two loose .223-caliber rounds from inside the defendant’s sweatshirt. Additionally, officers recovered an American Tactical AR-15 rifle semi-automatic assault weapon with one round in its chamber, as well as a magazine containing 85 .223-caliber rounds, a magazine containing 44 .223-caliber rounds, a magazine containing 18 .223-caliber rounds, and four loose .223-caliber rounds from inside the defendant’s backpack.
The victim sustained a grazed gunshot wound to his head, a gunshot wound to his wrist, an injury to his radial artery and suffered a volar laceration that will require surgery to repair. The victim is stable and was treated at a local hospital.
“This was a brutal, calculated assault using battlefield weaponry. Under absolutely no circumstances are we going to stand for turning our communities into war zones. Given the firepower deployed in this violent attack, we asked for the defendant to be remanded into custody,” Katz said. “Thankfully, the judge agreed.”
If convicted, Hudson faces up to 25 years in prison.
