Abreu was arraigned via video conference from a hospital bed while he drifted in and out of consciousness. His defense attorney, Jonathan Latimer, declined to enter a plea in Queens Criminal Court, saying that he had only been able to spend about 45 minutes to an hour with his client.
According to Jonathan Selkowe, the Assistant Queens District Attorney presenting in arraignment court, Abreu was identified in two photo lineups and a surveillance video. Selkowe told the judge that when Abreu was confronted by police, he told them he was being chased by Russians and Italians “all wearing earpieces,” and that they were “after him.” When asked about the gun, Selkowe said, Abreu reportedly said he found it in his bag and kept it.