By Sarina Trangle
A 30-year-old Kew Gardens man is facing attempted murder, assault, weapon possession and tampering with evidence charges after authorities alleged he shot his girlfriend in the head Sunday and then lied about how she was injured, the Queens district attorney said.
Police said Steven Diaz, who lived with his 22-year-old girlfriend on 127th Street near Kew Gardens Road, drove his significant other to Jamaica Hospital early Sunday morning.
He initially told authorities a bullet hit his girlfriend, Amanda Rivera, amid a scuffle that broke out when three masked robbers broke into the couple’s home, according to DA Richard Brown.
Prosecutors later alleged that Diaz fired a shot at Rivera’s head with a 9mm handgun between 4:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m., according to the DA. Diaz then ditched the weapon in the sewer and drove Rivera to the hospital, according to Brown.
Diaz’s attorney, Mark Cohen, declined to comment.
Rivera sustained significant brain damage and was last reported in critical condition at Jamaica Hospital, according to authorities.
“If her condition changes and she does not survive, the charges will be upgraded,” Brown said.
Diaz also faces criminal possession of marijuana charges after police said they discovered 10 pounds of marijuana in his third-floor apartment.
The couple had no prior record of domestic violence, according to the NYPD.
Reach reporter Sarina Trangle at 718-260-4546 or by e-mail at strangle@cnglocal.com.
