TWO MEN INDICTED FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER FOR SHOOTING WOMAN INSIDE BRONX HOTEL

 

Defendants Engaged Victim in Prostitution, Beat and Robbed Her

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced that two men have been indicted on Attempted Murder, Assault, and additional charges for shooting a woman whom they hired to engage in prostitution, inside the Opera House Hotel.

 District Attorney Clark said, “The defendants allegedly beat and robbed the victim, then one of the defendants allegedly shot her in the leg, inside a Mott Haven hotel. Such violence will not be tolerated.”

 District Attorney Clark said the defendants, Kadeem Thompson, 29, of 202-15 Linden Boulevard, Queens, NY, and Robert Harris, 34, of 88 Livonia Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, have been arraigned on a 25-count indictment charging Attempted Murder in the second-degree, three counts of first-degree Assault, three counts of second-degree Assault, two counts of first-degree Robbery, two counts of second-degree Robbery, two counts of first-degree Burglary, two counts of second-degree Burglary, first and second-degree Criminal Use of a Firearm, two counts of second-degree Criminal Possession of Weapon, two counts of third-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Criminal Possession of a Firearm, two counts of fourth-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, and third-degree Patronizing a Person for Prostitution.

 Thompson was arraigned before Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas. He was remanded and is due back in court on July 6, 2022. Harris was arraigned on April 13, 2022 before Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas. Bail was set at $500,000 cash/ $500,000 bond/ $500,000 partially secured bond at 10 percent and he is due back in court on July 6, 2022.

 According to the investigation, on March 18, 2022, Thompson allegedly contacted and solicited a 29-year-old woman to engage in prostitution with him at the Opera House Hotel located at 436 East 149th Street. Thompson allegedly went to the woman’s hotel room at approximately 12:00 a.m. and told her his money was in his jacket outside and stepped out of the room. Thompson returned with Harris and both allegedly solicited the victim to engage in various sexual acts with them for more compensation.

 Then Thompson allegedly took out a gun and demanded the woman to perform additional sexual acts. When the victim refused and tried to run out of the room, Thompson and Harris allegedly threw her against the wall and hit her head. The defendants allegedly stole her cellphone and money at gunpoint and continued to hit her. The victim attempted to use the hotel room phone to call for help, and Harris allegedly ripped the phone off the wall and Thompson shot her once in her thigh. The defendants then fled the hotel, and the victim was taken to Lincoln Hospital where she was treated for her wound.

 District Attorney Clark also thanked NYPD Detective Brian DeStefano of the 40th Precinct, NYPD Detective Joseph Azevedo of the Human Trafficking Squad, and NYPD Detective Gary Capellan of the Warrants Squad for their assistance in the investigation.

 If you have been a victim of a crime while engaging in commercial sex work or are in need of support, we encourage you to contact the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, (718) 838-6535; the New York City Police Department, or the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline, (888) 373-7888, or by texting “BeFree” (233733) to the hotline phone number. 

 An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.