2 Assaulted, 2 Others Menaced with Gun; Suspect Apprehended

A Shomrim Volunteer was brutally assaulted in a sudden and unprovoked attack on Kingston Avenue. The suspect was apprehended, and police later found an imitation firearm in his possession.

The incident occurred on Hoshana Raba at around 5:00am. A group of Shomrim volunteers had successfully located a teenager with special needs that was reported missing by his parents, and were wrapping up the search at their mobile command center on Crown Street and Kingston Avenue, when a number people came running over asking for help.

“There is a guy threatening to hurt people [pointing down the block],” said one frantic teenager.

Two Shomrim volunteers went to check it out and found a group teenagers arguing with a man who was visibly intoxicated. The volunteers managed to separate the group and calm the scene down, then as they were about to leave the man suddenly punched one of the volunteers in the face, knocking him to the ground.

The second Shomrim volunteer called for backup and police assistance, while the suspect fled behind some houses on Crown Street.

Meanwhile Hatzalah was called for the injured volunteer, who suffered swelling and a large laceration above his eye. He was rushed to a nearby hospital.

Two dozen Shomrim volunteers swarmed the area, and after a short pursuit the suspect was apprehended. Police, who arrived on scene within minutes, took him into custody and placed him under arrest.

Police identified the suspect as Ibna Pasha, a 22-year-old Pakistani man, who witnesses said brandished a gun at a house party at 49 Crown Street earlier that night.

According to a complaint filed with the police, two victims said that they were involved in an argument with Pasha at a house party earlier that night, when he pulled out a black firearm and pointed it at them. He then got into his vehicle and fled the location.

A third victim, 16-years-old, confronted Pasha later that night on Crown Street near Kingston Avenue, demanding to know why he pulled a gun on his friends. According to the complaint, Pasha then punched him in the face with a flashlight, causing injuries.

Once in custody, police searched Pasha’s red and blue Ford Explorer and found an imitation firearm hidden beneath the spare tire in the trunk of his SUV. A flashlight, which he allegedly used in the assaults, was also recovered in his possession.

The suspect was charged with felony assault, criminal possession of a weapon, menacing and harassment. He was arraigned last week and released on $250 bail.

Pasha had his fair share of run-ins with authorities stretching back a number of years. In the past he has been arrested for criminal mischief, resisting arrest and attempting to extort businesses. According to a complaint filed in July, “[Pasha] brought his car into a mechanic shop on Church Avenue and threatened the owner that if he doesn’t give him a free oil change and car wash he will destroy his shop.”

“[Pasha] then pulled out a 2 foot long machete and menaced the cashier of the establishment.”