Alleged Road Rage Killer Charged With Firefighter's Murder: DA

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK -- A Staten Island man accused of murdering an FDNY firefighter in a fit of road rage was arraigned in Brooklyn Criminal Court Tuesday, prosecutors said.

Joseph Desmond, 29, was charged with murder for fatally beating Brooklyn firefighter Faizal Coto, 29, near the Belt Parkway on Dec. 9, after a minor collision, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney's office.

Both drivers pulled over near 14th Avenue and Bay 8th street at about 4:45 a.m., at which point Desmond allegedly punched Coto with enough strength to fracture his skull and cause internal bleeding, said prosecutors.

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Another driver found Coto lying in the street, pulled over and called 911, said prosecutors.

Emergency responders rushed to help the firefighter but were unable to save his life, prosecutors said.

Coto was an off-duty Engine 245 firefighter who lived in Prospect Park South and hoped to be a rap star one day.

Coto's alleged killer was arrested one day after his death, when police used Desmond's 2006 Infiniti G3's license plate to track the Staten Island man to a motel in South Amboy, New Jersey, prosecutors said.

Desmond, who could face life in prison if convicted, held without bail Tuesday and ordered to return court on March 1, said prosecutors.

Photo of the handcuffs police officers used to arrest Joseph Desmond courtesy of the FDNY/Twitter