Suspect arrested in Flatlands hit-and-run that left child dead, 2 critical

FLATLANDS, N.Y. (WABC) -- The suspect in a deadly hit-and-run in Brooklyn Wednesday afternoon is now under arrest.

Through his attorney, Robert DeCarlo, 26, arranged to turn himself in at a local precinct in Brooklyn just before 2 p.m. Police want to talk to DeCarlo after the driver of a stolen minivan crashed into a mother and her two daughters on Flatlands Avenue and East 46th Street around 5 p.m. Wednesday.

He is charged with Manslaughter, Criminally Negligent Homicide, Assault (2 counts), Leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, Grand Larceny

Leaving a Scene of an Accident Resulting in Injury, Reckless Endangerment 2, Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle, Red Light violation, Speeding, Grand Larceny Auto 4, and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property 4.

Joie Sellers, 12, was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. Her 9-year-old sister and 38-year-old mother remain hospitalized in critical condition.

Police say the victims were walking on the sidewalk when the stolen 2005 Dodge Caravan jumped the curb and mowed them down. The driver, believed to be DeCarlo, fled on food.

"He lost control, he turn two times, boom boom, and then he go on top of the kids," an eyewitness said. "We saw the two girls laying there bleeding, and like yo let's move the car, there might be a third."

"Me and a couple of other guys pushed the car up onto the hydrant," another witness said.

Under the car, they found Joie.

"Her eyes were open and she wasn't moving at all," Shamar Brooks said. "She wasn't blinking."

Eyewitness Mitch Guejuste tried to chase the suspect as he limped away from the scene.

"He went through somebody's yard jumped the fence," he said. "Jumped after him, then he jumped a second fence, I jumped after him again. People are heartless. How can you hit three kids and run? That's heartless."

DeCarlo is believed to have stolen the vehicle on June 27 from Tommy's Auto Repair in Sheepshead Bay, not far from where he lives in Brooklyn.

He was tracked by his cell phone following the crash, when he is believed to have run into an alley at Avenue J and East 43rd Street, where he was picked up by a car.

DeCarlo has multiple prior arrests for robbery and drug possession

On March 21, he allegedly mugged a 65-year-old woman shopping in Brighton Beach. Police say he kicked her multiple times and fled with her purse. He was charged with assault, robbery, identity theft, grand larceny and petit larceny. He was arraigned on July 1 and released without bail.

He also has at least two prior drug arrests.

Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).