Brooklyn Dad Dies After Being Assaulted and Robbed in Taxi

A Brooklyn father tragically passed away after experiencing a medical emergency in the back of a private cab following a violent attack where he was assaulted and robbed of his chain, according to police reports.

Michael Shelonchik, 53, was a passenger in a cab on Neptune Avenue near West 5th Street in Brighton Beach when two assailants approached the vehicle, opened the door, and began physically assaulting him, ultimately stealing his chain before fleeing the scene.

Shelonchik requested to be taken home by the cab driver, but he suffered a medical episode during the journey, at Avenue Y and East 3rd Street. He was then rushed to Maimonides Medical Center where he later passed away.

Shelonchik, a lifelong Brooklyn resident, leaves behind two devastated daughters, one of whom, Taylor, expressed her shock at the tragic events. She described her father as a loving and dedicated parent who meant everything to their family.

Taylor reminisced about her father’s passion for music and the impact he had on her life. She highlighted his sense of humor and the close bond they shared as a family.

Shelonchik’s cause of death is currently under investigation by the city medical examiner’s office. The NYPD has released surveillance footage of the suspects involved in the robbery, who are still at large.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or visit their website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/.

The community is mourning the loss of Shelonchik, with neighbors expressing sadness over the tragic event and calling for an end to such senseless violence in the city.