District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Wyandanch man was indicted for five counts of attempted murder and other charges for an alleged stabbing spree at a Hempstead house party in October that left five partygoers with life-threatening injuries.
Moses Brooks, 50, was arraigned today before Judge Christopher Quinn on five counts of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (a B felony); five counts of Assault in the First Degree (a B violent felony); five counts of Assault in the Second Degree (a D violent felony); Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree (a D felony); Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree (a D felony); Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree (an A misdemeanor); Public Lewdness (a B misdemeanor); Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree (a B misdemeanor); Criminal Solicitation in the Fourth Degree (an A misdemeanor); Attempting to Bribe a Witness (an E felony) and Tampering with a Witness in the Fourth Degree (an A misdemeanor).
The defendant pleaded not guilty, and bail was set at $500,000 cash, $1 million bond, and $2.5 million partially secured bond. He is due back in court on December 20, 2024.
If convicted, the defendant faces up to 25 years to life in prison consecutively on each of the attempted murder counts, as well as potential consecutive sentences on the attempted bribery and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree counts.
“This defendant went on an alleged stabbing spree outside of a house party, viciously and indiscriminately slashing and stabbing at partygoers, and ultimately injured a total of eight people,” said DA Donnelly. “Five of those victims cooperating with NCDA’s prosecution suffered extensive injuries that required emergency life-saving medical intervention, including severed arteries and significant blood loss. Several victims suffered deep gashes to their arms and have permanent mobility loss. After his arrest for this nearly deadly rampage, the defendant allegedly attempted to tamper with the prosecution, offering money to victims for their silence. This kind of random, brutal violence will not go unchecked in Nassau County.”
DA Donnelly said that, according to the charges, on October 6, 2024, at approximately 6:30 a.m., the defendant was at a crowded basement house party on Linden Place in Hempstead.
During the party, the defendant allegedly exposed himself to a 26-year-old partygoer. When the woman walked away, the defendant allegedly followed her and rubbed his penis against the victim’s arm.
Afraid after the alleged incident, the victim told friends of the encounter and they removed the defendant from the residence.
Outside of the home, Brooks and several other partygoers became involved in a verbal argument. The defendant then allegedly pulled out a knife and began indiscriminately slashing and stabbing at individuals congregated in the front yard of the home.
Five partygoers suffered extensive lacerations and injuries and were each privately taken to Mercy Hospital for treatment.
One victim’s radial artery was severed when her arm was slashed and required emergency life-saving surgery. Because of the injury, she lost mobility in her hand.
Another victim’s tendons and ligaments were slashed, which caused permanent injury and the loss of mobility in the victim’s hand.
Two additional victims were both stabbed on the left side of their necks, nearly severing their carotid artery and jugular, respectively.
Another victim’s leg was slashed near the femoral artery and the victim had difficulty standing for a month after the alleged attack.
The defendant fled the scene after the incident.
Brooks was arrested at LaGuardia Airport on October 19, 2024, by members of the Port Authority Police and Nassau County Police Departments disembarking from a flight returning to New York from Florida.
After his arrest, the defendant allegedly attempted to bribe victims with cash to prevent them from cooperating with the prosecution.
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsel Joseph Grasso of the County Court Trial Bureau under the supervision of Bureau Chief Ali Ajamu and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for the Litigation Division Kevin Higgins. The defendant is represented by Christopher Cassar, Esq.
The charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.