Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the NYC area for more than a decade. She joined PIX11 News in 2022. See more of her work here.
DOUGLASTON, Queens (PIX11) --- A mother escaped with her 1-year-old child after three men armed with guns and hammers allegedly broke into a Queens home over the weekend and held eight family members hostage, authorities said.
Brandon Dash, 39, Ryan Dash, 34, and Jone Smith were arraigned on kidnapping, robbery, burglary, assault, grand larceny, and criminal possession of weapon charges Sunday, according to prosecutors.
The suspects allegedly broke into the family home near Marathon Parkway and Cullman Ave in Douglaston between 2:15 a.m. and 3:18 a.m. Saturday. The masked trio then woke up the homeowners in the bedroom where they were sleeping with a 1-year-old child and threatened them with a gun, according to court records.
The suspects, one armed with a gun and the other two with a hammer, allegedly held the eight occupants, five adults and three children, hostage before a woman and a 1-year-old child escaped, authorities said.
Prosecutors said the woman called 911 after fleeing with her youngest child.
“There are thieves in the house,” she told the cops.
When officers got to the scene, they looked through a window and saw family members on the floor with their hands up. Six people, including two kids, and three suspects were still in the home, authorities said.
The robbers escaped through a window with $10,000 and were captured after a massive manhunt in the neighborhood, according to court records. Officers found the money after the arrests.
“As alleged, these three defendants held a family of eight people, including children, as hostages, while displaying a gun and two hammers. These victims showed incredible courage during a home invasion in which a mother escaped with her youngest child and called 911. These defendants not only threatened the family, but also destroyed the family's sense of safety in their own home,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said.
Two of the family members were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
The defendants pleaded not guilty and were held without bail at their arraignment, according to court records.
Their attorneys could not immediately be reached Monday.
Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the NYC area for more than a decade. She joined PIX11 News in 2022. See more of her work here.