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Inmate starts fire on Rikers Island, oil smuggling: Here are this week's top stories

Published  April 8, 2023 3:40pm EDT
Crime and Public Safety
FOX 5 NY

NEW YORK - Oil smuggling, prison fire, possible hate crime and more, here are this week's top stories. 

1. Suspect arrested in Queens shooting of rookie NYPD officer

Suspect arrested in NYPD rookie cop's shooting

FOX 5 New York's Antwan Lewis reports on the arrest of a suspect in connection to the shooting of a rookie NYPD cop in Queens, and the latest on the officer's condition.

A suspect was arrested in connection to the shooting of a rookie police officer in Queens, authorities announced on Friday.

The suspect, identified as 22-year-old Devin Spraggins, was taken into custody around 9 p.m. Thursday in the Bronx in connection to the shooting of rookie officer 22-year-old Brett Boller, NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig said during a news conference.

2. Man stabbed by as many as 7 suspects yelling anti-gay slurs in Hell's Kitchen

Man stabbed by as many as 7 suspects yelling anti-gay slurs in Hell's Kitchen

A man was harassed and stabbed in the leg by 7 suspects yelling anti-gay slurs.

A 44-year-old man was harassed and stabbed by a group of individuals shouting anti-gay slurs Wednesday night, between 10th Avenue and West 43rd Street, in Hell's Kitchen.

According to officials, the man was approached by seven male suspects.

The suspects reportedly used anti-gay slurs before stabbing him in the left leg.

In what is known to be one of NYC’s most prominent LGBTQ neighborhoods, Hell's Kitchen is no stranger to crimes like this one.

3. Man arrested for stealing cooking oil from local Chick-fil-A 

Suffolk County Police arrested Hector Castrol-Espinal, 23, for stealing cooking oil from Chick-fil-A in Huntington Station.

Suffolk County police arrested a man for stealing cooking oil from a Chick-fil-A on 200 Jericho Turnpike in Huntington Station.

Hector Castrol-Espinal, 23, was charged with five counts of petty larceny and is scheduled to be arraigned in Central Islip later this month. 

Police said Castrol-Espinal stole oil from the restaurant and hauled it onto a rented truck and then resold the oil.

After a monthslong investigation officials say Castrol-Espinal siphoned oil on January 24, January 31, and February 10, February 18, and March 23 of this year.

4. 20 hurt at Rikers Island after inmate starts fire in cell, officials say

20 injured in Rikers Island fire after inmate lights fire in cell, officials say

Several staff members and inmates were taken to the hospital after a fire at Rikers Island on March 6, 2023. Here's what we know.

An inmate lit a fire in his cell at Rikers Island on Thursday, sending several other inmates and staff members to the hospital for treatment, officials said. 

The fire was reported at about 1:30 p.m. Thursday, officials said. The inmate started the fire in a cell at the North Infirmary Command. 

Ten staff members and five inmates were all taken to the hospital for injuries, mostly for smoke inhalation, fire officials said. 

Five others refused medical treatment.