NYC machete attack suspect with 45 prior arrests now charged in fatal hit-and-run that killed beloved Queens cancer survivor
A Bronx man with a staggering history of 45 prior arrests has been charged in connection with a fatal hit-and-run that killed a Queens cancer survivor earlier this year, reigniting outrage over New York’s revolving-door justice system. Authorities identified the suspect as 31-year-old Timothy Bohler, who is already in custody at Rikers Island for a brutal machete attack that shocked the city earlier this year.
According to investigators, Bohler was driving a motorcycle through the intersection of 114th Street and Liberty Avenue in Queens when he struck 52-year-old Lelawattie Narine, a mother, and cancer survivor who had recently completed chemotherapy and was on her way to visit a friend. Witnesses say Bohler sped off without stopping, leaving Narine critically injured on the road. She was rushed to Jamaica Hospital but tragically succumbed to her injuries days later.
Detectives linked Bohler to the case months later through surveillance footage and forensic evidence. It was a devastating revelation for Narine’s family, who had been searching for justice since her death in March. “He could’ve stopped, he could’ve called for help,” said her son Darshan. “Instead, he just ran away and left my mother there to die. It’s unforgivable.”
Court documents reveal Bohler’s extensive criminal record, dating back to 2016, with dozens of charges ranging from assault and weapons possession to domestic violence and sexual offenses. He had been arrested 45 times before this latest indictment, raising serious concerns about how he remained free despite his long record of violent and erratic behavior. Many New Yorkers are now questioning whether lenient bail laws and weak sentencing allowed a known repeat offender to remain on the streets until tragedy struck again.
The victim, Lelawattie Narine, was known in her Richmond Hill neighborhood as a resilient woman who had fought and survived cancer. Friends described her as soft-spoken, hardworking, and someone who never gave up, even through her toughest days of chemotherapy. Her family says she was finally getting her life back — walking daily and reconnecting with loved ones — before her life was taken in a senseless act of recklessness.
At the time of his arrest for the hit-and-run, Bohler was already behind bars for an unrelated case that made headlines earlier this year. In January, he was charged in a vicious machete attack that left an MTA worker seriously injured and fighting for his life. Prosecutors say Bohler slashed the man’s hand during an argument at a Bronx bodega and later threatened to harm his dog. That case remains pending in Bronx Criminal Court.
Keen observers note that the timing of this new indictment while Bohler is already detained underscores the deep frustration of both law enforcement and the public. Many see this as a grim symbol of how dangerous individuals continue to slip through the cracks of the city’s legal system until irreversible harm is done. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz called the case “a heartbreaking example of a preventable tragedy” and vowed to ensure Bohler faces the full weight of justice.
For Narine’s family, however, the loss is beyond repair. “My mother beat cancer. She survived everything life threw at her,” said her son. “But one man’s carelessness and cruelty ended it all in seconds. We just want justice.”
As the case moves forward, prosecutors plan to charge Bohler with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and operating without a valid license. He remains in custody and is expected to appear in court again later this month. The case has reignited calls for stricter laws against repeat offenders, with many New Yorkers demanding reform before another innocent life is lost.
