Former Coney Island Amusement Park Worker Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison for Attempted Murder
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced today that Joseph Colon, a former Coney Island amusement park worker, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for an act of violence that nearly killed a coworker. The incident occurred during an ongoing dispute over customers and profits at a game booth in Luna Park. Surveillance footage captured the shooting, as well as the defendant disposing of evidence inside Nathan’s Famous before fleeing to Pennsylvania. Colon was convicted in May after a trial.
District Attorney Gonzalez condemned the shooting as an “outrageous act of violence” and emphasized that gun crime will not be tolerated in Brooklyn. He stated that this sentence ensures that the defendant is held accountable for his deplorable actions.
The defendant, Joseph Colon, was sentenced by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Susan Quirk to 13 years in prison with five years of post-release supervision. Colon, a resident of Coney Island, was found guilty of second-degree attempted murder, first-degree criminal use of a firearm, first-degree reckless endangerment, and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
According to the evidence presented in court, both the defendant and the victim, a 38-year-old man, worked at the Jumbo Prizes game booth in Coney Island’s Luna Park. Prior to the shooting, the two men had engaged in repeated arguments over customers and profits.
On September 10, 2021, at approximately 8 p.m., the defendant was working at the game booth when the victim arrived for work. Colon, observing that the victim was unarmed, took a tactical position behind the booth and pulled out an unlicensed handgun. He fired a single shot at the victim, striking him in the chest.
After the shooting, the defendant left the booth and briefly chased the victim before fleeing down Bowery Street. Surveillance video captured him on Stillwell Avenue, removing his camouflage hoodie and discarding it in the garbage at Nathan’s Famous. The hoodie was later recovered and tested for DNA, which matched the defendant’s. The evidence further revealed that Colon fled to Temple, Pennsylvania, where a relative resided. He was eventually arrested and extradited back to New York by the United States Marshals Service and the NYPD’s Regional Fugitive Task Force.
The victim, who collapsed near the intersection of Stillwell and Mermaid Avenues, was rushed to NYU Langone Brooklyn for treatment. He suffered a gunshot wound to the chest, a broken rib, a collapsed lung, a lacerated liver, and severe blood loss. After spending approximately a week in the hospital, he was finally released.
This sentencing serves as a reminder that violence and gun crimes have serious consequences. The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of the community by holding individuals accountable for their actions.
Gun violence continues to be a pressing issue in many communities, and its impact can be devastating for victims, their families, and the larger community. Efforts to prevent and address gun violence should encompass comprehensive strategies, including community engagement, intervention programs, and stricter gun control measures.
In conclusion, the sentencing of Joseph Colon to 13 years in prison for the shooting of a coworker at Coney Island’s Luna Park highlights the seriousness of gun violence and the need for accountability in our society. By addressing this issue head-on, we can work towards creating safer communities and ensuring justice for the victims of such crimes.
