Staten Island Dirt Bike Attack: Masked Riders Swarm SUV as NYPD Vows Arrests

Several masked dirt bike riders swarmed a white SUV on a Staten Island street, kicking and striking the vehicle as its driver tried to escape. The Staten Island dirt bike attack, captured on video obtained by Fox News Digital, happened on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, on Richmond Avenue in the Bulls Head neighbourhood. No one was seriously injured, officials said. At a news conference the next day, NYPD Assistant Chief John Buttacavoli warned the riders that arrests are near and a task force has been assembled.

Key Points

• Masked dirt bike riders swarmed a white SUV stopped at a traffic light on Richmond Avenue in the Bulls Head neighbourhood of Staten Island on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
• Video obtained by Fox News Digital shows the riders kicking and striking the SUV, while another appeared to throw an object at it. The driver ran over a dirt bike blocking the road to escape.
• No one was seriously injured, according to officials, and no arrests had been announced as of Saturday, November 15.
• NYPD Assistant Chief John Buttacavoli said on Thursday, November 12, that arrests are near and a task force has been assembled to identify the riders.
• Staten Island District Attorney Michael McMahon called the behaviour "simply outrageous", and Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella also condemned the attack.

What Happened

The attack happened in daylight on Richmond Avenue, a busy main road through Bulls Head. The white SUV was waiting at a traffic light when several riders on dirt bikes moved in around it. The video shows the riders surrounding the vehicle on both sides. One rider can be seen kicking at the side of the SUV, while others strike at it with their hands and feet. Another rider appeared to throw an object towards the vehicle.

The driver, trapped at the light with bikes on every side, made a split-second decision to escape. A dirt bike had been placed directly in front of the SUV, apparently to stop it moving forward. The driver drove over the bike and pulled away from the group. Officials said no one was seriously injured, and it is not clear how badly the vehicle was damaged.

Background: Illegal Dirt Bikes on New York City Streets

Illegal dirt bikes have been a persistent problem on New York City streets for years. The bikes are designed for off-road use and are not registered, insured, or fitted with the equipment required for road use, which makes them illegal to ride on public streets in the state. Groups of riders have been filmed weaving through traffic, running red lights, and blocking roads, often while wearing masks or helmets that hide their faces.

Staten Island Dirt Bike Attack: What the Video Shows

The video obtained by Fox News Digital is the clearest record of what happened on Richmond Avenue. It begins with the white SUV already surrounded at the traffic light, with riders on dirt bikes on both sides and at least one bike in front of it. The riders are masked, dressed in dark clothing, and their bikes are typical off-road machines with knobbly tyres and no licence plates visible.

The most striking moment comes when a rider on the driver's side lifts his leg and kicks at the SUV's door, while other riders strike the vehicle as the group holds it in place. The driver then accelerates forward, running over the dirt bike that had been placed in front of the vehicle, and the SUV pulls away.

Reactions and Quotes

The NYPD moved quickly to promise action. At a news conference on Thursday, November 12, Assistant Chief John Buttacavoli warned the riders directly that arrests are near. He said police are gathering intelligence and working to identify those involved, and that a task force has been assembled. He also said officers will keep confiscating illegally operated motorised bikes.

Staten Island District Attorney Michael McMahon was blunt in his condemnation. He called the behaviour "simply outrageous", and said the riders intimidate motorists and put innocent people at risk. His office will decide whether criminal charges are brought once the NYPD identifies the riders, and the video evidence is likely to be central to any case. Borough President Vito Fossella also condemned the attack, and the video has been shared widely online, with many viewers expressing shock that a group of riders would surround and attack a car in broad daylight.

Why It Matters

Illegal dirt bike riding is usually treated as a traffic problem, but this time a group stopped a vehicle, surrounded it, and attacked it, leaving the driver to choose between staying put and driving over a bike to escape. That is intimidation, not a traffic offence, and officials at every level on Staten Island have treated it as such. The NYPD task force is an acknowledgement that confiscation alone has not stopped masked groups riding openly on city streets.

What Happens Next

The investigation remains active, and no arrests had been announced as of Saturday, November 15. The NYPD task force is working to identify the riders from the video and from other intelligence. The masks will make identification harder, but investigators will be looking at the bikes, the clothing, and any other footage from the area.

Once riders are identified, the district attorney's office will decide on charges, with the video likely to be the key evidence. Enforcement on Staten Island is also expected to step up, with more patrols and more seizures of illegal bikes. Whether that deters the next group ride is an open question, but the message from the borough's police, prosecutors, and elected officials is the same: the riders will be found, and arrests are coming.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on Richmond Avenue in Staten Island?
On Wednesday, November 11, 2026, several masked dirt bike riders swarmed a white SUV stopped at a traffic light on Richmond Avenue in Bulls Head, kicking and striking the vehicle while another rider appeared to throw an object at it. The driver ran over a dirt bike blocking the road to escape.

Was anyone hurt in the Staten Island dirt bike attack?
No one was seriously injured, according to officials, and police have not said how badly the SUV was damaged.

Has anyone been arrested?
No arrests had been announced as of Saturday, November 15. NYPD Assistant Chief John Buttacavoli said on Thursday, November 12, that arrests are near, with a task force working to identify the riders.

What did Staten Island officials say about the attack?
District Attorney Michael McMahon called the behaviour "simply outrageous", saying the riders intimidate motorists and put innocent people at risk. Borough President Vito Fossella also condemned the attack.

Are dirt bikes legal to ride on New York City streets?
No. Dirt bikes designed for off-road use are not registered, insured, or equipped for road use, and it is illegal to ride them on public streets in New York. The NYPD regularly seizes illegally operated motorised bikes.

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