QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11) -- A Brooklyn man was indicted with manslaughter, drunk driving, and additional charges for a crash in Astoria that killed his girlfriend in February, the Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Thursday.
Ray Perez, 27, was arraigned on a 13-count indictment and faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted, officials said.
On the night of Feb. 21, Perez and his girlfriend, Bridget Enriquez, 29, were at the NYC Gentleman’s Club at 26-50 Brooklyn-Queens Expressway in Woodside, according to officials. Perez had several alcoholic drinks and had to be escorted outside at around 1:16 a.m., officials said.
Perez allegedly swung a shovel at bar staff before driving away with Enriquez. He returned to the club at around 3:56 a.m. and started another altercation, according to prosecutors.
Police then tried to stop Perez on 28th Avenue in Astoria after noticing his bent license plate. However, Perez fled and ran three stop signs before colliding with another vehicle, officials said. His vehicle hit two parked cars before driving off, officials said.
Police were then notified of a second crash at the intersection of 56th Drive and 61st Street in Maspeth at around 4:24 a.m. Perez had stopped and knocked on a door at the location, asking for help, officials said.
Officers took Perez to a hospital where toxicology testing revealed there was Alprazolam and THC in his system, and his blood alcohol content was 0.16 percent — twice the legal limit to drive, officials said. Police said Perez had a suspended driver's license.
Meanwhile, Enriquez was found bleeding and unconscious in the passenger seat. She was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Perez was charged with:
- Manslaughter in the second degree
- Vehicular manslaughter in the second degree
- Assault in the second degree
- Attempted assault in the second degree
- Unlawful fleeing a police office in a motor vehicle in the first degree
- Leaving scene of an incident without reporting
- Menacing in the second degree
- Two counts of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol
- Operating a motor vehicle while impaired by a combined use of drugs or of alcohol and drugs
- Reckless driving
- Aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree
- Operating or driving a motor vehicle without a license
If convicted, Perez could face up to 15 years in prison. He is expected to reappear in court on June 20.
Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here.
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