BRONX MAN INDICTED IN BOAT EXPLOSION OFF CITY ISLAND THAT INJURED TWO PEOPLE 22 PASSENGERS FORCED TO JUMP INTO WATER

“Captain” Allegedly Seen Drinking Alcohol, Had No License to Operate Vessel  

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced that a Bronx man has been charged with first-degree Assault and other charges after allegedly piloting a charter boat without a captain’s license while drinking. The craft exploded and seriously injured two people on Long Island Sound. 

District Attorney Clark said, “Thankfully no one was killed when the vessel burst into flames and passengers jumped into the water, but a woman nearly drowned, and a man suffered serious burns. The defendant put his passengers at risk when he drank alcohol alongside them as he piloted the boat. Fortunately, rescue crews were nearby and acted swiftly to save their lives.” 

District Attorney Clark said the defendant,Joshua Brito, 33, of East 203rd Street, the Bronx, was arraigned today by Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas on two counts of firstdegree Assault, two counts of second-degree Assault, first-degree Vehicular Assault, two counts of second-degree Vehicular Assault, four counts of third-degree Assault, first-degree Reckless Endangerment, second-degree Reckless Endangerment, three counts of Operation of a Vessel while under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs, violation of the Navigation Law Manning of Public Vessels, violation of the Navigation Law Licenses, and Reckless Operation of a Vessel. He is due back in court on October 29, 2025. 

According to the investigation, on June 7, 2025, between approximately 4:00 and 8:00 p.m., the defendant, who does not have a captain’s license, was operating a 36-foot boat for hire, carrying 22 passengers who were celebrating a family birthday. The defendant met the passengers at the World’s Fair Marina in Flushing, Queens, and from there navigated the boat north on the Long Island Sound. Off the coast of Hart Island and City Island, the boat exploded and caught fire, forcing all the passengers to jump into the water. FDNY Marine Units rescued a drowning woman and performed lifesaving CPR measures on her before transporting her to a nearby hospital. A man fell into the fire and suffered second and third-degree burns across his body, requiring skin grafts to repair. The defendant allegedly profited over $3,000 from the charter and was seen drinking alcohol throughout the trip.

District Attorney Clark also thanked the NYPD Harbor Unit, especially Police Officers Brian Lauler and Peter Whitelaw, Detective Kevin Wallace of the NYPD Highway Collision Investigation Squad, FDNY Firefighters Eric Falk and Kelly Lyons of the FDNY Marine Unit, Supervisor of Waterfront and Marine Operations Emil Pape of the NYC Parks Department, and Lieutenant Commander Shawn Karasevicz of the United States Coast Guard, Sector New York, for their work on the investigation.