On February 8, 2017, 66-year-old Robert D’Onofrio, a civilian employee of the NYPD, was ambushed and murdered at his Bensonhurst home on Bay 8th Street. Three people drove from Brownsville and surveilled the house until D’Onofrio and his daughter left, then broke in, ransacked the residence and stole electronics, jewelry and ammunition. They believed a safe in the home contained firearms and planned to force D’Onofrio to open it.

When D’Onofrio returned around 5 p.m., the assailants assaulted him over several hours, using blunt objects and a belt in an effort to make him open the safe. The attack ended when he was shot twice, the bullets piercing his lung and heart. His daughter found his body in the garage; he was taken to Maimonides Medical Center and pronounced dead on arrival. The stolen Ford Mustang was driven back to Brownsville and seen on surveillance as it was disabled and concealed; DNA evidence was later recovered from the vehicle.

If anyone has information about who planned or participated in the break-in and attack, or about the Mustang seen after the crime, please share what is known with investigators.