A Brooklyn resident is suing the City of New York and multiple NYPD officers, accusing them of falsely arresting and imprisoning him in connection with a 2024 shooting investigation.
The lawsuit filed by plaintiff Shaqulle Abrom named the City of New York, Ruth Donald, Jonathan Dias, and Leo Bonacasa as defendants. The case involves an incident on October 15, 2024, when a teenager was shot while riding a moped in Brooklyn. The teenager could not identify the shooter, and no eyewitnesses came forward. NYPD detectives pursued an investigation that led to Abrom’s arrest. According to the complaint by Abrom’s attorney Michael Lumer, Detective Jonathan Dias used video footage to create still images showing a man entering a nearby building, but no criminal activity. Although the images did not identify the shooter or connect anyone to the crime, Detective Leo Bonacasa claimed to recognize Abrom in the images.
On November 10, 2024, based on Bonacasa’s identification from the still images, Dias issued an I-Card for Abrom’s arrest. Abrom was arrested on November 23, 2024, near a bodega in Brooklyn without engaging in any criminal conduct or possessing contraband. During interrogation by Officer Ruth Donald, Abrom was shown videos and photographs allegedly implicating him, but denied involvement and said he was not at the scene.
Abrom was processed for arrest despite a lack of probable cause or evidence linking him to the crime. He was held until November 25, when the Kings County District Attorney’s office declined to file charges, leading to his release after nearly two days in custody.
Abrom’s lawsuit alleges violations of his constitutional rights under 42 U.S.C. §1983 for false arrest and imprisonment. He claims emotional distress and economic loss. The suit also cites New York City Administrative Code §8-802 et seq., holding the officers and the city responsible.
Abrom demands actual damages from the individual officers and municipal authorities, punitive damages related to his arrest, attorney fees under federal law, and injunctive relief against further violations.
The plaintiff is represented by attorney Michael Lumer of Lumer Law Group. The case was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York under case ID 1:25-cv-04209.