(Photo: iStock)
July 24, 2018 By Tara Law
Three people have been arrested for allegedly assaulting a pair of brothers in Queens Center Mall on Friday.
North Carolina residents Dorell James, 20, and Shakema James, 37, and Long Island City resident Joshua Adams, 21, were charged with two counts of assault and second degree harassment, according to the Queens District Attorney’s office.
The incident took place at around 7:13 p.m. in the food court of the 90-17 Queens Blvd. mall, police say. The trio approached one of the victims, Javier Cortes, 26, and started to punch and kick him.
The victim’s brother, Marco Cortes, 27, then tried to come to his aid.
The three defendants, who were accompanied by two unapprehended suspects, then punched and kicked the brothers, the Queens District Attorney’s office said.
An unapprehended man then approached Marco Cortes and cut the victim’s face with an unknown object, police say. Cortes told police that he suddenly felt blood trickling down his face.
Adams, Shakema James and Dorrell James were taken into police custody on the scene, police say.
The Cortes brothers were taken to Elmhurst General Hospital, where they were treated for their injuries. Marco Cortes received stitches for a stab wound near his temple.
After being taken into police custody, Adams, Shakema James and Dorrell James claimed that they had been acting in self-defense.
The three defendants told police that they had been in the food court to get McDonald’s with extended family when they encountered a group of Hispanic people who were already fighting in the food court, according to the Queens District Attorney’s office.
The three said that one of the men had called them the n-word and took a swing at Adams.
The police have video footage of the incident and are continuing to investigate.
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7 Comments
Look at all these cowards who post racist comments online but wouldn’t dare say it in person. And this site is also racist because it allows racist comments but will knowingly block a comment like this one.
One word : Animals .
Unfortunately this is why I don’t shop at this, my local mall. At Christmas time they have a big police truck parked outside to fast track the arrests. It is a big shame. The mall itself is nice and has quite a few high end stores.
Diversity
Too much rap music
Not true Rick
This borough needs even more gentrification.