Queens Family Held Hostage During Terrifying Home Invasion: 3 Men Arrested

Queens Family Terrorized in Home Invasion: 3 Men Arrested

Three men were arrested and charged with holding a family of eight hostage during a home invasion in Queens early Saturday morning. The incident occurred around 2:15 a.m. on 247th Street in Douglaston when three masked men armed with hammers and a gun broke into a home through a bedroom door, awakening the owners and their 1-year-old child at gunpoint.

The men restrained the family, including three children, and demanded money and valuables. A mother and her infant escaped and called 911, alerting authorities to the situation. Police officers responded to the scene and found the three men holding four adults and two children hostage inside the house. A manhunt ensued, culminating in the arrests of the three men.

Two hostages were taken to a hospital for minor injuries. The suspects, identified as Brandon Dash (39), Ryan Dash (34), and Jone Smith (also known as Conrad Harrigan, 47), were charged with six counts of kidnapping, three counts of burglary, two counts of robbery, four counts of burglary, three counts of robbery, two counts of assault, grand larceny, three counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and one count of criminal possession of a weapon.

The authorities recovered more than $10,000 stolen from the homeowners.

"These three defendants held a family of eight people, including children, as hostages, while displaying a gun and two hammers," said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. "These victims showed incredible courage during a home invasion in which a mother escaped with her youngest child and called 911. These defendants not only threatened the family, but also destroyed the family’s sense of safety in their own home."

The three men face a maximum of 25 years in prison if convicted. They are scheduled to return to court on Thursday.