March 7, 2024
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah announced today that a man arrested in January for shooting his former girlfriend in her Sleepy Hollow home, in violation of a protection order, was arraigned on a 27-count indictment. The defendant remains remanded in Westchester County Jail.
DA Rocah said: “This defendant allegedly forced his way into his former girlfriend’s residence where he shot her in the presence of young children, and then continued to violate an order of protection. This case highlights the potentially deadly combination of firearms and domestic violence. We will continue to fight to keep guns out of the wrong hands, and seek justice for the victims, which include children.”
The defendant, Ruben Santiago, 39, was arraigned today before Judge Susan Capeci in Westchester County Court on an indictment by a Westchester County Grand Jury for Attempted Murder in the First Degree, Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Attempted Assault in the First Degree, three counts of Burglary in the First Degree, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Assault in the Second Degree, Aggravated Criminal Contempt and Criminal Contempt in the First Degree, all felonies, and 11 counts of Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree, four counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and Assault in the Third Degree, all misdemeanors.
The defendant is due back in court April 4.
It is alleged that at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 2, the defendant, in violation of an order of protection, forcibly entered the Sleepy Hollow home of his former girlfriend and shot her with a .38 revolver while young children were present. The victim, who suffered gunshot wounds to her neck and hand, was treated at an area hospital.
The charges against the defendant also include the following allegations:
- Assaulting the victim while children were present on Dec. 29, 2023, resulting in the defendant’s arrest on Dec. 29, 2023, by the Sleepy Hollow Police Department, and the victim being granted the order of protection.
- Violating the order of protection between Dec. 30, 2023, and Jan. 1.
- Violating the order or protection again between Jan. 16 and 24 while in custody following his arrest on Jan. 3 by Sleepy Hollow police
The investigation was conducted by the Sleepy Hollow PD, with assistance from the FBI’s Westchester Safe Streets Task Force, Westchester County’s Real Time Crime Center, the Greenburgh Drug and Alcohol Task Force, New York Police Department, and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office.
The case is being prosecuted by the Special Prosecutions Division’s Domestic Violence Bureau Chief Joyce Miller and Domestic Violence Deputy Bureau Chief Janelle Armentano with assistance from Assistant District Attorney Omar Youssef.
The charges against the defendant are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Anna Young, Public Information Officer
(914) 995-6551
ayoung@westchesterda.net
