PATCHOGUE, NY – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced that Matthew Mitchell, 20, of Brooklyn, has pleaded guilty to Assault in the Second Degree and related charges after striking a 19-year-old woman during an illegal street takeover involving amateur car stunts in Patchogue.
Today’s conviction sends a clear message that Suffolk County will not tolerate reckless street takeovers that endanger innocent lives,” District Attorney Tierney said. He added that stunt driving and street racing can have devastating consequences, including serious injury or death to bystanders, and warned that drivers can face prison time for the harm they cause.
According to court records and Mitchell’s admissions during his guilty plea, the incident occurred on October 6, 2024, at approximately 1:15 a.m., when a large group of vehicles and spectators gathered at Gateway Plaza in Patchogue. Investigators said participants performed doughnuts, drifting, and other dangerous driving maneuvers while people stood nearby watching and filming.
Authorities said similar gatherings and stunts were reported that night at multiple locations across Suffolk and Nassau counties, with videos recorded by witnesses and later posted on social media.
One video posted online showed a 19-year-old woman standing in the parking lot observing the activity when Mitchell’s white Infiniti struck her along the side of the vehicle as he attempted to perform a stunt. Prosecutors said the car then fled before police arrived. The victim was taken to a local hospital by a friend, where she was treated for a fractured femur and pelvis.
Suffolk County Police said investigators used social media posts to identify witnesses and locate Mitchell. On October 15, 2024, Suffolk detectives, assisted by the New York City Police Department, arrested him. Investigators also determined that Mitchell’s driver’s license had been revoked and that he had six separate suspensions.
On December 11, 2025, Mitchell pleaded guilty before Acting Supreme Court Justice Steven A. Pilewski to the following charges: Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony; Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting, a Class E felony; Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor; Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the Second Degree, an unclassified misdemeanor; and Reckless Driving, an unclassified misdemeanor.
Mitchell is scheduled to return to court on January 22, 2026, when he is expected to be sentenced to two years in jail.
Key Facts & Details
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Defendant | Matthew Mitchell, 20, of Brooklyn |
| Victim | 19-year-old woman |
| Incident Date & Time | October 6, 2024, at approximately 1:15 a.m. |
| Incident Location | Gateway Plaza, Patchogue |
| Incident Type | Illegal street takeover involving amateur car stunts |
| Alleged Conduct | Struck a bystander while performing a stunt; fled the scene |
| Vehicle | White Infiniti |
| Victim Injuries | Fractured femur and pelvis |
| Medical Response | Victim transported to local hospital by a friend |
| Evidence | Social media videos posted by witnesses |
| Arrest Date | October 15, 2024 |
| Arresting Agencies | Suffolk County Police Department, assisted by NYPD |
| Driving History | License revoked; six prior suspensions |
| Guilty Plea Date | December 11, 2025 |
| Charges | Assault in the Second Degree (Class D violent felony); Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting (Class E felony); Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree (Class A misdemeanor); Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the Second Degree; Reckless Driving |
| Sentencing Judge | Acting Supreme Court Justice Steven A. Pilewski |
| Next Court Date | January 22, 2026 |
| Expected Sentence | Two years in jail |
