Man Plowed Into Crowd On Sidewalk, Killing One

YONKERS, NY — A Yonkers man who deliberately drove his car onto the sidewalk to attack people after a fight has been found guilty of murder and attempted murder, Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced Tuesday.

Joel Thompson, 25, was found guilty of all charges following a jury trial that opened Dec. 6. Westchester County Court Judge George Fufidio presided.

He is scheduled for sentencing Feb. 27.

At 9:40 a.m. Dec. 20, 2017, following a fight at an apartment complex on Nepperhan Avenue, Thompson drove his car onto the sidewalk and plowed into a group of people. He pinned 16-year-old Madysen Denman and killed her. He also attempted to kill two others in the group with his car, Omar Ramos and Monty Anthony. Neither were injured.

He then drove away. But after following up on a description of Thompson’s vehicle, Yonkers Police made the arrest a short time later.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Lana Hochheiser, Deputy Chief of the Homicide Bureau, and Craig Ascher, both of the Superior Court Trial Division.