A 33-year-old Bay Shore man has been indicted on attempted murder and assault charges after prosecutors said he stabbed a 65-year-old man in the neck during a meeting at First United Methodist Church in Amityville.
As LI True Crime previously reported, Daniel Escobar was arrested about two hours after the Sept. 11 stabbing and initially charged with first-degree assault. Suffolk County prosecutors announced Wednesday, Sept. 23, that a grand jury has now indicted him on more serious charges, including second-degree attempted murder.
According to the investigation and indictment, Escobar and the victim were attending a meeting inside the church on the night of Sept. 11 when Escobar allegedly stabbed the man in the neck without provocation.
The wounded man fled the church and made his way to a nearby building while bleeding heavily. Another person who had been at the meeting came to his aid and applied pressure to the wound until police and emergency medical personnel arrived.
The victim was taken to Good Samaritan University Hospital, where he was intubated, sedated and placed on a ventilator before undergoing emergency surgery to stop the bleeding. Prosecutors said he remains hospitalized.
Escobar was arrested near his home approximately two hours after the stabbing. Prosecutors allege he had the knife used in the attack in his waistband when he was taken into custody.
Escobar was arraigned Sept. 23 before Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice John B. Collins on charges of second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault and two counts of second-degree assault.
Collins ordered him held on $150,000 cash, $1.5 million bond or $1.5 million partially secured bond. An order of protection was issued for the victim.
Escobar is scheduled to return to court Oct. 26. He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the top charge.
The case is being prosecuted by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office Major Crime Bureau. The investigation was conducted by Suffolk County police First Squad detectives with assistance from Amityville Village police.
Escobar is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
