A Brooklyn man pleaded guilty to striking a 19-year-old while performing dangerous and illegal amateur car stunts at a street takeover late last year.
On October 6, 2024, at approximately 1:15 a.m., a large group of vehicles and people gathered at the Gateway Plaza in Patchogue to participate in or watch drivers performing “doughnuts,” drifting, and other amateur car stunts.
During the course of that night, there were other locations throughout Suffolk and Nassau Counties, where groups of vehicles and people were performing similar stunts and driving maneuvers. Witnesses observed, recorded, and posted these stunts on social media.
One of the posts included a video of the 19-year-old victim, who was standing in the parking lot observing the maneuvers. The video depicted Mitchell’s white Infiniti striking the victim with the side of his car while he was attempting to perform a stunt. After she was struck, Mitchell’s vehicle fled the scene before police arrived. The victim was taken to a local hospital by a friend and treated for a fractured femur and pelvis.
Suffolk County police used social media posts to locate both witnesses and the defendant. On October 15, 2024, Suffolk County police detectives, with the assistance of the New York City Police Department, located and arrested Mitchell. A review of Mitchell’s driving history revealed that his license had been revoked and had six suspensions on six separate dates.
On December 11, 2025, Mitchell pleaded guilty before Acting Supreme Court Justice Steven A. Pilewski to the following charges contained in the indictment:
- one count of Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony
- one count of Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting, a Class E felony
- one count of Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor
- one count of Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the Second Degree, an unclassified misdemeanor
- one count of Reckless Driving, an unclassified misdemeanor
Mitchell is due back in court on January 22, 2026, when he is expected to be sentenced to two years in jail.
“Today’s conviction sends a clear message to anyone who takes part in illegal street takeovers that Suffolk County will not tolerate reckless behavior that puts innocent lives at risk,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “Street racing and stunt driving may seem like fun to participants, but, as this case demonstrates, the consequences can be devastating. Bystanders can easily be seriously injured or killed, and drivers will end up in prison for any harm they cause. The best-case scenario is you just lose your car. We will continue working with law enforcement to crack down on these dangerous gatherings and ensure that participants understand there are serious legal consequences for their reckless choices.”