Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has been
indicted for Attempted Murder and several others charges for attacking a 32- year-old mother of-two
after forcing his way into her apartment in a botched burglary.
District Attorney Clark said “The defendant viciously attacked a young woman in front
of her two children, trying to smother her and proceeding to injure one of her children. Thanks
to the heroic acts of a little boy, the defendant faces many years behind bars.”
District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Brian Febus, 22, of Ryer Avenue, was
arraigned today before Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas and bail was continued
at $500,000. He is due back in court on Sept. 5, 2017. If convicted on the top charge he could
face up to 25 years in prison.
Febus was indicted on second-degree Attempted Murder, two counts of first-degree
Burglary, three counts of second-degree Burglary, third-degree Burglary, first-degree
Attempted Assault, three counts of second-degree Assault, second-degree Attempted Assault,
two counts of third-degree Assault, two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child and
Criminal Obstruction of Breathing or Blood Circulation.
According to the investigation, on April 25, 2017, Febus knocked on the door of Denise
Soto’s apartment in the Mount Hope section of the Bronx and asked to use the bathroom. After
she refused, he forced his way in, striking her several times and trying to smother her face
down on her mattress. Soto’s 11-year-old son stabbed Febus twice. Despite his wounds, Febus
continued to assault Soto and fled the apartment after a call was made to police by the boy,
who also suffered injuries during the attack.
An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.
