Driver Charged With Murder & Reckless Endangerment For Killing Cyclist

BUSHWICK – The 41-year-old driver that killed a cyclist earlier this month was charged with second-degree murder and first-degree reckless endangerment for intentionally running over a cyclist.

On September 2 at around 6 a.m., the driver, Korey Johnson allegedly saw 47-year-old Donald Roberts breaking into his 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee parked on Broadway near Ellery Street. Johnson allegedly confronted Roberts and they both engaged in a  verbal dispute, cops said at the time. Roberts then allegedly struck a woman with a screwdriver and got on his bike and fled.

According to District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, Johnson got into his car and chased after the cyclist. He deliberately sped down Broadway into oncoming traffic. He also intentionally drove his vehicle into the cyclist from behind before crashing his car into a row of parked cars. His vehicle then flipped to its side.

Roberts was taken to Woodhull Hospital where he died from severe blunt force trauma. Johnson was arrested right away, and today, he was arraigned. He was remanded without bail and ordered to return to court on December 6, 2019. He faces a maximum sentence of up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the top count.

“Rather than call the police when he allegedly saw a crime being committed, this defendant allegedly turned his car into a deadly weapon and needlessly took a life,” Gonzalez said. “Lawless behavior cannot be tolerated, and we will now seek to hold this defendant accountable for his actions.”