Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 15 Years to Life in Prison for Mowing Down Business Owner with Stolen Truck

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, December 13, 2017

 

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 15 Years to Life in Prison for
Mowing Down Business Owner with Stolen Truck

Defendant Stole a Truck Parked Outside Welding Company

Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a 26-year-old man has been sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for fatally driving over a business owner who attempted to stop him from driving off in a stolen truck in Greenwood, Brooklyn.

Acting District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant not only ripped an innocent, hardworking man from his children and family, but also robbed the community and his employees of a beloved colleague and friend. Today’s sentence will not heal his loved ones’ wounds, but I hope it will provide them with a small measure of solace.”

The Acting District Attorney identified the defendant as Joshua Colon, 26, of Flatbush, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Neil Firetog to 15 years to life in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last month.

The Acting District Attorney said that, on April 4, 2016, at approximately 9:00 a.m., the defendant jumped into the driver’s side of a flatbed truck parked in front of A&D Ironworks located at 305 24th Street in Greenwood. The defendant drove away with the truck, while the owner of A&D and the truck, Felize Dellegrazie, 63, chased after him in an SUV.

When Colon was stuck in traffic a few blocks away, Dellegrazie left his SUV and climbed on the side of the truck to demand that Colon turn off the engine and exit. During the confrontation, the defendant fought back and as he pushed Dellegrazie away the victim fell off the truck and was run over.

According to the evidence, the defendant drove over the victim’s head and neck killing him instantly. The defendant then abandoned the truck and was arrested later while trying to steal another vehicle.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Howard Jackson, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Timothy Gough, Bureau Chief.

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