Authorities in New York City have arrested a suspect in connection with an illegal street takeover that was captured on video. The incident, which took place in the Queens neighborhood of Malba, resulted in a couple being violently assaulted and a neighbor’s car being set on fire, according to local officials.
Justin Aguilera, 19, faces multiple charges, including gang assault, riot, assault, and trespassing. City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino, who represents the area, announced the arrest on social media Thursday, emphasizing the severity of the charges against Aguilera.
The charges relate to a chaotic car meet-up that occurred around 12:30 a.m. on November 23. During the event, a husband and wife were reportedly attacked in their front yard. City Councilwoman Paladino identified Aguilera as the “main assault perpetrator” in the incident.
“We all saw the blurry videos,” Paladino stated. “Tracking a car and identifying the license plate was no easy feat, but the authorities succeeded. This is just the beginning, but it’s a strong start.”
Footage shared by Paladino on social media shows a chaotic scene where a group of individuals looks on as a car is engulfed in flames during the street takeover. The incident occurred on Sunday, November 23, 2025, in the Malba area of Queens.
The video also captures cars performing donuts on the residential street while fireworks explode, eventually leading to one neighbor’s vehicle being set ablaze.
Larry Rusch, a private security guard who lives in the area, heard the chaos outside his home and went outside to discover approximately 40 vehicles racing through the street, The New York Post reported.
In what was ultimately a futile attempt to defuse the situation, Rusch reportedly parked one of his vehicles in the intersection to try to block the drivers from causing even more damage.
Footage shared by New York City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino shows a group of individuals watching as a car is set ablaze during a neighborhood street takeover in Malba, Queens on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. (@VickieforNYC/X)
“As soon as I did that, everyone started leaving,” Rusch told The Post. “Then two individuals go up to the car. Somehow they threw some kind of firework or something and lit the car up. Then the melee started again.”
As the incident was unfolding, Blake Ferrer, another neighborhood resident, was reportedly attacked by the violent mob while attempting to defend his home.
“When I came out, I said, ‘Bro, you gotta get the f— off my property,’” Ferrer told The Post. “And that’s when it all started.”
Photos shared by Councilwoman Vickie Paladino show the aftermath of a violent neighborhood street takeover, in which a couple was brutally assaulted and a car was torched in Malba, a neighborhood located in Queens, New York, on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. (@CMvpaladino/X)
Footage shows a large group of people descending on Ferrer and his wife in the couple’s front yard, leaving the man with a broken nose, shoulder and ribs.
Within a few hours of the alleged beatdown, Aguilera was arrested for driving with a suspended license, which ultimately gave investigators the opportunity to track and identify him, according to Paladino.
Officials also seized the main stunt vehicle allegedly used in the illegal takeover earlier this week, with Paladino adding that the NYPD is currently tracking additional persons of interest as the investigation remains ongoing.
Aguilera was set to be arraigned in a Queens courtroom on Friday morning. The NYPD did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Following the incident, Paladino said she will be working alongside the Department of Transportation and NYPD to determine new infrastructure additions to help combat similar street takeovers.
“This is not over,” Paladino said. “And I am not going to let this go until everyone involved faces consequences.”
