Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of JIMMY CONNORS, 17, for killing two people after driving the wrong way on the Henry Hudson Parkway. CONNORS was charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with two counts of Murder in the Second Degree, two counts of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, three counts of Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting, and two counts of Criminally Negligent Homicide. [1]
The Office is seeking witnesses who may have seen the defendant driving the wrong way before the crash. Anyone who believes they may have witnessed Connors driving is encouraged to call the Office at 212-335-9040.
“This incident is a horrific tragedy, and my heartfelt thoughts are with the loved ones of Mr. Walker and Mr. McLaurin. Mr. Walker was set to get married the next day and these families should have been celebrating that joyous occasion,” said District Attorney Bragg. “My office is continuing to investigate this incident, and I encourage anyone who was driving on the Henry Hudson Parkway that morning and saw a car driving the wrong way to call 212-335-9040.”
According to court documents and statements made on the record, on August 24, 2024, Connors was allegedly driving his Chevy Silverado pickup truck southbound on the northbound lane on the Henry Hudson Parkway at approximately 2:25 a.m.
CONNORS collided directly into another vehicle being driven by Kirk Walker with Robert McLaurin in the passenger seat, who were cousins, at West 165th Street. CONNORS left his vehicle, which was eventually engulfed in flames. He jumped across the center median into the southbound lanes and entered the woods.
Both Walker and McLaurin were brought to hospitals and pronounced dead.
On August 25, CONNORS was detained at the Canadian border attempting to flee. He had cuts and bruises on his face and stomach, blood on his shirt and walked with a limp.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant D.A.s Julie Nobel and Elaine Ortyl, under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Daniel Makofsky and Tricia Phillips (Deputy Chiefs of Trial Bureau 80) and Siobhan Carty (Chief of Trial Bureau 80) and Executive Assistant D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division).
D.A. Bragg thanked Detectives Keith Solomon, Kevin Long and Douglas Gerber of the Collision Investigation Squad.
Defendant information:
JIMMY CONNORS
Syosset, New York
Charged:
- Murder in the Second Degree, a class A-I felony, one count
- Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a class C felony, two counts
- Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting (Death), three counts, a class D felony
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