Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Monday, Feb. 6 that Jennifer Nelson of Shirley, 35, has been indicted on charges of Attempted Murder stemming from an incident in 2022 when she allegedly ran over a 15 year-old boy whom she believed had robbed her own son.
“This defendant, an adult, allegedly thought she could take the law into her own hands and tried to kill a 15-year-old in the process,” Tierney said. “This defendant’s incredibly misguided attempt to avenge the alleged victimization of her own child is no excuse.”
Suffolk County Police arrested Nelson after they say she intentionally struck a teen with her 2020 Honda Passport on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022.
Nelson had confronted a group of teens – while purportedly armed with a small baseball bat and a knife – in the parking lot of the Dunkin’ Donuts located across from William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach about the alleged robbery of her son earlier in the day.
During the altercation, one of the teens then proceeded to walk across the road to the parking lot of Manhattan Bagel, officials say, at which time Nelson crossed the street in her vehicle and struck him with it.
Police say that Nelson then fled the scene after the incident took place, only to be placed under arrest the next day following an investigation.
The victim was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Nelson has been charged with attempted murder, assault, reckless endangerment, and leaving the scene of an incident without reporting resulting in serious physical injury. She has been released on her own recognizance and is due to appear back in court on March 21.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
