Suspect Indicted in Murder of Milton Storch a”h

By Matis Glenn

The woman who allegedly ran over and killed Milton Storch a”h on August 27 has been indicted on multiple charges, including murder, the Queens District Attorney announced Friday.

Hundreds gathered at the levaya of Mr. Storch, 59, last Wednesday, after it was discovered that he was Jewish and had been left to be buried by the city. Askanim in Shomrim, Chesed Shel Emes, JCC, and Achiezer were instrumental in identifying the niftar’s relatives, and planning the levaya and kevurah.

Kiani Phoenix, 26, had been engaged in a verbal and physical altercation with another woman, before driving on to the sidewalk on Beach 20 Street in Far Rockaway, allegedly in an attempt to kill her adversary. While bystanders ran away, Mr. Storch was unable to, as he was sitting in his walker and unable to get up fast enough. He was tragically murdered; Phoenix left the scene, but not before backing up and allegedly injuring another bystander.

“The blatant disregard for human life allegedly displayed by the defendant is incomprehensible,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement. “An entire neighborhood continues to mourn the senseless loss of a community member because of these criminal actions. The defendant has now been indicted on murder charges and will be held accountable.”

Phoenix was indicted last Thursday by a Queens grand jury and is pending arraignment on the indictment in Supreme Court.  The defendant was previously arraigned on August 30, 2022 before Queens Criminal Court Judge Jessica Earle-Gargan on a complaint charging her with murder in the second degree, attempted murder in the second degree, assault in the second degree, leaving the scene of an incident without reporting and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree. If convicted, Phoenix faces 25 years-to-life in prison.

mglenn@hamodia.com