Queens, NY – Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz today announced the arraignment of Luis Hernandez on charges related to the murder of a 21-year-old man and the attempted murder of two others in Astoria in February 2020. The indictment marks a significant development in a case that has remained unresolved for four years.
Hernandez, 36, from Maspeth, faces a seven-count indictment, including murder in the second degree, gang assault in the first degree, and attempted murder among other charges. If convicted, Hernandez could receive up to 75 years to life in prison. He is scheduled to return to court on March 26.
The charges stem from an incident on February 9, 2020, where Hernandez, along with at least two other individuals who remain at large, is accused of attacking Richard Hernandez (no relation) in front of 36-30 31st Street in Astoria. The victim succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital. Two additional victims survived the assault, having suffered stabbings and physical attacks.
The breakthrough in the case came nearly four years later when Hernandez was identified by NYPD transit officers for a minor infraction in Brooklyn, leading to his connection with the 2020 Astoria stabbing. This arrest was the result of ongoing efforts by the Queens County District Attorney’s Cold Case Unit.
DA Katz emphasized the commitment to pursuing justice regardless of the time elapsed since the crime, underscoring the resolve to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.
