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Queens drag racing turns violent with couple assaulted on their lawn, car set on fire
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Nov 24, 2025
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Vickie Paladino via X
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Nov 24, 2025
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Dozens of drivers descended on a residential block in Queens this weekend for a chaotic meetup that turned violent — and residents say police were slow to respond to the disruption despite multiple 911 calls.
The incident unfolded around midnight Saturday near the intersection of 141st Street and 11th Avenue in Malba, a quiet area of tree-lined streets just off the Whitestone Bridge. NYPD officials said about 50 cars were drag racing on the block, and some of their occupants wreaked havoc, igniting fireworks and breaking glass bottles.
Authorities said some of the participants eventually set an empty Ford Fusion sedan on fire in the middle of the street, triggering an FDNY response to put out the flames. A couple on the block said they were attacked when they stepped outside their home to confront the raucous crowd on their lawn.
“ I think everybody on the block was calling 911 … and I just don't think that they got here fast enough,” said Melissa Ferrer, 50. Social media videos posted on X by local Councilmember Vickie Paladino show Ferrer and her husband assaulted by members of the group.
“I think that probably the firemen were here first before the police,” Ferrer said.
The widely shared videos show multiple people in hoodies and face masks repeatedly kicking and punching 50-year-old Blake Ferrer, Melissa’s husband, until he fell to the ground, while she tries to push some of the others away. Two of the assailants were swinging large black flags, and Blake was holding a baseball bat to defend himself, the videos show.
Tire marks on the Malba street that neighbors said drag racers took over
Vickie Paladino via X
Police have not announced any arrests in connection with the incident, but said the chief of the Queens North Patrol Borough met with Paladino and residents Sunday and the NYPD is increasing patrols in the area to ensure similar incidents don’t reoccur.
Paladino said on X that residents were initially told the NYPD’s quality-of-life team and 311 would handle the situation, which she called "unacceptable."
“These violent street takeovers should be met with maximum force by the police department,” she said.
In response to a request for comment, an NYPD spokesperson said police were handling multiple incidents Saturday night in the 109th Precinct, which covers a wide swath of northeast Queens, including Malba, Flushing, Queensboro Hill, College Point, Whitestone, Beechhurst and Bay Terrace. As residents called 911 to report the drag racing at 141st Street and 11th Avenue, police were busy arresting an intoxicated driver, transporting someone to the hospital and dealing with an assault and a vehicle collision with injuries, according to the spokesperson.
A sergeant who at first was assigned to the drag-racing scene around 12:37 a.m. Sunday for a “possible crime” was rerouted to a car stop resulting in an arrest elsewhere because a supervisor was needed for the arrest, officials said. Around 12:50 a.m., police said, the drag-racing call was upgraded to a “crime in progress” — criminal mischief — which is a higher-priority job.
A patrol supervisor for the precinct arrived on the scene about 10 minutes later, according to the NYPD. By then, firefighters were working to extinguish the car fire, officials said.
Firefighters work to extinguish the car fire at 141st Street and 11th Avenue in Queens
Vickie Paladino via X
Drag racing has long been a quality-of-life issue across the city. Melissa Ferrer said drag racers come to Malba “all the time” to take advantage of its wide streets, but usually do a doughnut and leave after a few minutes.
“This was an exception to the rule,” she said.
The burned car from the drag-racing incident in Malba
Vickie Paladino via X
Blake Ferrer said he sustained several broken ribs and injuries to his shoulder, nose, cheek and throat when he confronted the unruly group. He said he regrets going outside, but felt the instinct to protect his home and his family.
“ The bottom line is I had to walk a block-and-a-half just to get an ambulance because nobody responded to my house, where the assault took place,” he told Gothamist. “I'm just fed up with the way New York has become.”
Police said Monday they were still investigating the incident and no other injuries were reported.
Tagged
public safety
queens
Brittany Kriegstein
Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at [email protected].
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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