Via press release from the Queen County District Attorney:
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Frank Cavalluzzi was convicted of nine counts of attempted murder for attacking peaceful Black Lives Matter demonstrators in June 2020, first charging at them wearing a glove with serrated blades and then attempting to run them over driving his SUV on the sidewalk.
District Attorney Katz said: “A dangerous man is going to jail. It’s a good day for New York and the First Amendment.”
Following a two-week trial, Cavalluzzi, 57, of 150th Street in Flushing, was convicted of nine counts of attempted murder in the second degree, nine counts of attempted assault in the first degree, seven counts of menacing in the second degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree and reckless driving.
After the conviction on Friday, August 18, Queens Supreme Court Justice Michelle A. Johnson set sentencing for October 13.
Cavaluzzi faces up to 25 years in prison for each count of attempted murder.
According to the charges and trial testimony:
• On June 2, 2020, at approximately 3:45 p.m., at the intersection of the Cross Island Parkway service road and Clintonville Street in Whitestone, a group of peaceful demonstrators hung up signs and posters in support of Black Lives Matter.
• Cavaluzzi came upon the demonstrators while driving, abruptly stopped his SUV across the street and began screaming profanities and racial slurs, including, “You are in the wrong neighborhood.”
• He then made a U-turn, exited the vehicle wearing four serrated blades attached to a leather glove strapped to his right arm, and chased several of the demonstrators while waving the bladed glove and screaming at them.
• Cavaluzzi re-entered his vehicle and yelled, “I will kill you,” before driving onto the sidewalk at the demonstrators.
UPDATE | Frank Cavalluzzi, 54, of Queens, was charged with attempted murder for allegedly threatening protesters with Wolverine-style blades, then trying to run them down with his SUV. https://t.co/p90LE8EbFt
— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) June 5, 2020
Horrifying for #BlackLivesMatters protesters in Whitestone, #Queens. Man tried to run them over on Tuesday, it’s caught on video. 54-yr-old Frank Cavalluzzi arrested. He had blades on his arm. Charged with Reckless Endangerment, Menacing, Weapon Possession. Video from @siburpunk pic.twitter.com/gIaL29ZIbw
— Dean Meminger (@DeanMeminger) June 4, 2020
After @NBCNewYork started asking @NYPDDetectives about why a man who tried to run over and stab protestors in Queens wasn’t in custody, @NYPD109Pct investigated, went to his house upstate and charged him with attempted murder. https://t.co/bv8hSocGzs pic.twitter.com/ilmEVXJore
— Myles Miller (@MylesMill) June 5, 2020
