A violent carjacker wreaked havoc in Crown Heights last night, stealing two vehicles at gunpoint, shooting at one of the victims, and striking a 75-year-old pedestrian. Police say the chaos began at around 5 p.m. near the intersection of Eastern Parkway and Utica Avenue, when 30-year-old Clinton Lawson approached a 2010 Toyota Corolla and brandished a .25 caliber semi-automatic handgun, ordering the couple out of the car.
Lawson then allegedly drove several blocks to the intersection of St. John's Place and Kingston Avenue, where he struck a 75-year-old pedestrian and a parked 2014 Mercedes Benz. When the 22-year-old owner of the Mercedes confronted Lawson, police say Lawson shot at him and missed, then ran to Sterling Place and Brooklyn Avenue, where he stopped a 2003 Nissan Xterra and ordered the couple inside to leave
Police say Lawson then totaled the Xterra after crashing into two parked cars near Rogers Avenue, and fled on foot, entering an apartment nearby until he was chased out by the homeowner. Lawson then tried to blend into the crowd that had gathered at Rogers Avenue, when witnesses pointed him out to the police.
The 75-year-old pedestrian was transported to Kings County Hospital with minor injuries.
Lawson is charged with displaying a firearm, felony assault, burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal possession of a weapon, leaving the scene of an accident, and aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle.
