DA weighing upgraded charges after victim in attempted carjacking in church parking lot dies
The car that a homeless woman attempted to carjack, seriously injuring a St. James woman who has died, in April from a parking lot at St. Mary's Church on Lake Shore Drive in Ronkonkoma. Credit: Stringer News Service
A woman seriously injured in an attempted carjacking in a Ronkonkoma church parking lot in April has died and now the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office is trying to determine if charges against a homeless woman being held for the crime will be upgraded, officials said Wednesday.
A spokeswoman for District Attorney Ray Tierney confirmed the death of Lorraine Lombardo, 73, of St. James. And in a statement Wednesday, Tierney said his office is trying to determine whether the death of Lombardo is connected to the April assault.
“We are aware of the recent and tragic death of the victim in this case and are investigating the circumstances surrounding that death to determine whether it is possible to file any additional charges against the defendant,” Tierney said in the statement.
Suffolk County police said Lombardo suffered serious leg injuries when Doreen Dunbar, 50, who has no known address, jumped into the driver's seat of her 2013 Chevrolet Spark in the parking lot of St. Mary's Church on Lake Shore Drive, then ran Lombardo over as the woman tried to stop her from taking off. Dunbar, who crashed the car and then fled on foot, was arrested following a search by Fourth Precinct officers, as well as canine and aviation teams.
Police said Lombardo was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of what were described in April as serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Police said Dunbar also was taken to Stony Brook for evaluation before being charged with first-degree robbery and first-degree assault.
Court records show Dunbar, who is represented by Legal Aid, pleaded not guilty at arraignment on May 4 and later was certified competent to stand trial. Records also show a temporary restraining order had been issued in the case and that Dunbar has been held on $100,000 bond or $50,000 cash bail.
She is due to appear next on July 27, records show.
With Vera Chinese
John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”
LI brothers with no criminal record deported ... Plays of the week ... What's up on LI ... Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV
LI brothers with no criminal record deported ... Plays of the week ... What's up on LI ... Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV
