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Queens Plaza subway attacker convicted of brutal hammer assault on commuter
Queens Plaza Subway Attacker Convicted of Robbery and Assault
**Queens, NY** – Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the conviction of William Blount for robbery in the first degree, assault in the first degree, and other charges. Blount attacked a woman with a hammer as she entered the Queens Plaza subway station in Long Island City in 2022, stealing her tote bag.
Blount, 60, whose last known address was in Manhattan, was convicted of assault, robbery, and weapon possession. He was acquitted of attempted murder charges following a six-week trial that began on February 24, presided over by Supreme Court Justice John Zoll. Sentencing is set for May 7, with a possible sentence of up to 25 years to life in prison.
During the February 2022 incident, Blount attacked a 58-year-old woman, causing her multiple skull fractures. The victim received medical attention, including a bilateral craniectomy, and suffered a broken finger among other injuries.
Investigation led to Blount’s arrest and the recovery of a hammer and the victim’s belongings at a residence in Long Island City. Video surveillance tracked Blount’s movements, and DNA evidence linked him to the crime. The case
Three Indicted for 2019 Stabbing Death of 17-Year-Old in Queens
Three Indicted for 2019 Stabbing Death of 17-Year-Old in Queens
**Queens, NY** – Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz has announced the indictment of Tianna Benjamin, Charles Gillespie, and Kyra Tyrell by a grand jury in connection with the murder of 17-year-old Talasia Cuffie in November 2019. The charges include murder, weapon possession, and conspiracy. Cuffie was attacked following a memorial basketball game for another victim, Aamir Griffin, unrelated to her death. The attack was driven by a mistaken belief that Cuffie was pregnant with Gillespie’s child.
According to the DA’s statements, Cuffie was persuaded to visit a residential block by the defendants and then stabbed in the abdomen and groin. She was left severely injured on the sidewalk and later died in the hospital. The Queens District Attorney’s Office emphasized its dedication to seeking justice for Cuffie and her family.
The individuals charged are Benjamin, aged 29, from Jamaica; Gillespie, aged 24, from Jamaica; and Tyrell, aged 22, from Brooklyn. They face charges of murder in the second degree, criminal possession of a weapon, and conspiracy. Benjamin and Tyrell
Queens Man Convicted in 2022 Triple Homicide
Queens Man Convicted in 2022 Triple Homicide
**Queens, NY** – Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the conviction of Travis Blake for murder in the first degree and other charges related to the deaths of his girlfriend and two of her family members. The victims were found with puncture and blunt force wounds in a decomposed state at their home in Jamaica in June 2022.
District Attorney Katz described the incident as a “stabbing rampage” that resulted in the deaths of Blake’s girlfriend, her son, and a visiting relative. The bodies were discovered when a resident of the home found one body and called the police, which led to the discovery of two additional victims. The defendant fled the state but was apprehended and brought back to New York, where he was found guilty by a jury.
Blake, 31, residing on 155th Street in Jamaica, was convicted following a trial that lasted three and a half weeks. He was found guilty of first-degree murder, three counts of second-degree murder, and two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Sentencing is scheduled for May 1, and Blake faces a possible life sentence without parole.
The trial proceedings began on March 12 and
