Violent Felon Charged In A String Of Armed Carjackings

One Carjacking Victim Shot in the Chest

Earlier today, John Howard was arraigned before United States Chief Magistrate Judge Steven M. Gold in Brooklyn federal court.  Howard faces charges for a series of gunpoint carjackings in Queens and Long Island.  A criminal complaint charges the defendant with three counts of carjacking and using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to crimes of violence.   

The charges were announced by Robert L. Capers, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Delano A. Reid, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), New York Field Office; and William J. Bratton, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (NYPD).

As detailed in the complaint and a detention memorandum filed by the government, Howard, who has a history of violence, participated in a series of armed carjackings that took place beginning in December 2015. 

On December 18, 2015, Howard attempted to burglarize a home in Valley Stream, New York.  While fleeing the scene of the burglary, he pointed a gun at the driver of a white Volkswagen Jetta and threatened to shoot if the driver did not comply with his demands.  After forcing the driver from the car, Howard stole the car. 

Ten days later, on December 28, 2015, Howard struck again.  This time the victim was sitting in his parked Mercedes Benz and was approached by two males.  One male entered the car through the passenger side door.  The second male, subsequently identified as Howard, opened the driver’s side door and told the victim, in sum and substance, “Give me your wallet or I’m going to shoot you.”  Howard then hit the driver in the head, forced him out, and stole the driver’s wallet.

On January 21, 2016, Howard was involved in a third violent carjacking in which a fifty-three-year-old woman was shot in the chest.  The woman’s daughter was in the passenger seat of a Hyundai parked in front of the Hampton Inn at JFK International Airport waiting for her mother to check into the hotel when a masked and armed man entered the car.  The man demanded money and jewelry from the daughter and struck her in the head with his firearm.  As the man began driving the car, he told the daughter, in sum and substance, “If your mother has no money, then I’m going to shoot you.”  When the mother exited the hotel a few minutes later, the man demanded the mother’s purse.  When the mother refused, the man shot her in the chest and drove off in a white Volkswagen Jetta – which was the same make and model, and had the same features, as the Volkswagen Jetta carjacked by Howard on December 18, 2015.

Four days after the January 21 carjacking, Howard was arrested in possession of the stolen white Volkswagen Jetta.   

United States Attorney Capers stated, “As alleged in the complaint and other court filings, Howard’s targets were victims of harrowing crimes, the likes of which we have not seen in some time.  This violence simply will not be tolerated, as Howard will now face the consequences of his acts in federal court.”  Mr. Capers expressed his grateful appreciation to the ATF and NYPD’s Joint-Robbery Taskforce, who are responsible for leading the investigation, and thanked the Nassau County Police Department, the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, the Queens District Attorney’s Office, the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, the NYPD’s Queens South Strategic and Tactical Command, and the 113 Precinct Detective Squad for their assistance.

ATF Special Agent in Charge Reid stated, “It is quite disturbing to think that an individual like the defendant was free to walk the streets as recently as two weeks ago.  As alleged, Howard was involved in multiple carjackings where he exhibited his total disregard for human life.  I am extremely grateful to the investigators and prosecutors on this case, who swiftly acted and removed such a dangerous individual from free society.  It is now time for the defendant to feel the full weight of the U.S. judicial system and to know that the severity of his punishment will likely be commensurate to the depravity of his criminal behavior.”

“These series of crimes demonstrate a disturbing level of depravity and complete disregard for the safety and well-being of the victims involved in these acts of violence,” said New York City Police Commissioner Bratton.  “As alleged, John Howard participated in a string of violent acts, including a carjacking where a 53 year-old mother was shot in cold blood when she refused to hand over her purse.  I commend the efforts of the Queens South Strategic and Tactical Command Investigative Operations and the 113th Precinct Detective Squad who made it a priority to take this dangerous individual off the streets and into police custody.”

The charges in the complaint are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.   

The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Moira Kim Penza and Tanya Hajjar.

The Defendant:

Name: John Howard
Age: 49
Brooklyn, New York