Two men charged with shooting an off-duty police officer in the leg during a carjacking incident in Queens.

Two individuals have been charged in connection with the shooting of an off-duty New York Police Department (NYPD) officer during a carjacking attempt in Queens. Denzel Brown, 29, and Marvin Dankwah, 26, are facing serious criminal charges including attempted murder, criminal possession of a weapon, and robbery following the incident that occurred on April 27, 2025.

According to police reports, the off-duty officer, aged 25, was targeted by Brown and Dankwah around 6:30 a.m. in Long Island City at the intersection of 43rd Avenue and 21st Street. The officer was shot in the leg, sustaining a graze wound, and was subsequently transported to a local hospital, where he was reported to be in stable condition.

At the time of the shooting, the officer was driving a distinctive neon green BMW, identified by its unique license plate reading “SHEEESHH.” After the shooting, the vehicle was located with a bullet hole visible in the windshield, underscoring the severity of the incident.

After the altercation, Brown and Dankwah fled the scene in a gray Nissan sedan, which had West Virginia license plates. However, law enforcement apprehended the suspects after they abandoned the vehicle and attempted to escape on foot near 33rd Avenue and Union Street in Flushing.

The Police Benevolent Association expressed relief over the officer’s condition while highlighting the broader implications of rising crime rates. They stated that the incident reflects a troubling trend that has emboldened criminals and placed both law enforcement officers and New Yorkers at risk.

Following their arrest, Brown and Dankwah were escorted from the 109th Precinct in handcuffs on April 28 and transported to Queens criminal court for arraignment.

Further investigations revealed that Brown is a level-3 sex offender, having previously served a prison sentence for the 2015 rape of an underage victim. He is also currently facing charges for a separate assault incident in Manhattan from March 2025. Meanwhile, Dankwah had own legal troubles, having been arrested earlier in April on charges of criminal possession of a forged weapon, although he was released on his own recognizance for that offense.

This alarming incident has once again brought attention to public safety concerns in urban environments and the challenges faced by law enforcement in maintaining order. As Queen’s precincts continue to navigate the complexities of crime prevention, the impact on local communities remains significant.

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