A Brownsville man faces life in prison for fatally mowing down a bicyclist who he claims burglarized his car earlier this month.
Korey Johnson, 41, was arraigned Sept. 27 before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Vincent Del Giudice on murder charges for allegedly killing 47-year-old biker Donald Roberts in Bushwick on Sept. 2.
Johnson claims that he spotted Roberts looting his parked car on Broadway near Ellery Street when he attempted to confront the thief — leading to a bloody confrontation when Roberts allegedly stabbed an innocent bystander in the arm with a screwdriver, according to authorities.
Roberts then attempted to peddle away from the scene on his bicycle, but Johnson gave chase in his SUV, pursuing the victim east along the westbound lane of Broadway, according to police.
The high-speed pursuit ended when the Johnson’s Jeep struck the cyclists, pinning him to a row of parked vehicles — and flipping his car in the process, cops said.
First responders found Roberts dead on the pavement with severe head trauma, according to a police department spokesman.
Cops cuffed Johnson and charged him with second-degree murder and first-degree reckless endangerment, according to prosecutors.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez blasted Johnson for his reckless attempt to take justice into his own hands.
“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,” said Gonzalez. “Lawless behavior cannot be tolerated.”
The suspect was released without bail and ordered to return to court on December 6. He faces a maximum sentence of up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the top count.
