NEW YORK, NY – A man suspected of initiating a brutal attack against a woman on a Queens subway platform has been indicted.
According to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, William Blount, 57, whose last known address was on William Street in Manhattan, was indicted by a Queens County grand jury and arraigned in Supreme Court on attempted murder in the first and second degree, assault in the first and second degree, robbery in the first and second degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.
“A second individual, Denise Alston, of Keeseville Avenue, has also been indicted for allegedly using the victim’s credit cards a day after the attack.” D.A. Katz said. “According to the charges, police recovered two credit cards and two department store cards in the victim’s name, and her New York City identification card allegedly from defendant Alston’s wallet. Both Blount and Alston are charged in the same indictment with criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth and fifth degree.”
The defendants were ordered to return to Court on April 11, 2022. Blount faces up to 25 years in prison, if convicted. Alston faces 4 years in prison.
District Attorney Katz said, “According to the charges on February 24, 2022, at approximately 11:30 p.m., a 58-year-old woman entered the Queens Plaza subway station as Blount approached her from behind. As alleged, Blount kicked the victim down the stairs, struck her on the head multiple times with what appeared to be a hammer, then grabbed the victim’s multi-colored handbag and fled the scene. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital where she was treated for a skull fracture, an intercranial hemorrhage, along with substantial bruising and swelling to her head.”
District Attorney Katz said, “This City relies on New Yorkers being able to take the subways in safety. While the victim walked down the stairs into the subway, the male defendant in this case is accused of pouncing on this defenseless woman – shoving her forward, hitting her repeatedly in the head with a blunt object and then forcibly snatching her purse. This violence must stop. A second defendant is charged with using the victim’s credit card. Both individuals will be held to account for their alleged criminal actions.”