We are shocked and saddened by the death of two youths in Middle Village who were walking home together after a birthday party, as friends do, when they were mowed down by a “wasted” car hijacker who admitted to stealing the car and being high on drugs and alcohol.
The suspect, Kenneth Guyear, 27, is charged with a laundry list of crimes in the hit-run deaths of 16-year-old Robert Ogle and 20-year-old Alex Paul on February 1 at 1:30 a.m.
The charges against Guyear in this case include: first-degree assault, first-degree vehicular manslaughter, second-degree manslaughter, third-degree grand larceny, third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, criminally negligent homicide, fourth-degree grand larceny, leaving the scene without reporting a felony, and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Robert Ogle’s dad, Brendan, called Guyear a “soulless predator,” who belongs behind bars. We could not agree more. Alex Paul’s father, Harry, lamented “He didn’t have a chance to grow up.”
Guyear is no stranger to trouble and has been locked up on Rikers Island eight times, for charges from robbery to stealing a car.
According to District Attorney Richard A. Brown, Guyear’s statements changed several times to “I was drinking and got into a fight with my father and I stole the car. I drove and saw people. I slowed down and didn’t see them again. I had five or six vodka drinks and took two Xanax pills. I stole the car that was parked on the street. I drove the car and saw the pedestrians but I did not think I hit anybody. I kept driving and then stopped the car and looked for blood on the car. I kept driving and the police stopped me.”
Let’s hope a judge does the “right thing” and locks up this monster, Guyear, for the rest of his life.