NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) -- A man was sentenced today to 14 years for attempted murder for attacking Black Lives Matter demonstrators in 2020, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Tuesday.
Frank Cavalluzzi, 58, was sentenced to 14 years in prison to be followed by five years post-release supervision.
In August, Cavalluzzi was convicted of nine counts of attempted murder, nine counts of attempted assault, seven counts of menacing, criminal possession of a weapon and reckless driving.
According to prosecutors, the attack happened at approximately 3:45 p.m. on June 2, 2020, a group of peaceful demonstrators hung up signs and posters in support of Black Lives Matter at the intersection of the Cross Island Parkway service road and Clintonville Street in Whitestone.
When Cavalluzzi came upon the demonstrators while driving, he abruptly stopped his SUV across the street from them and yelled profanities and racial slurs. He then told the demonstrators, "You are in the wrong neighborhood," DA Katz said.
He then made a U-turn and got out of 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.
Cavalluzzi re-entered his vehicle and yelled, "I will kill you," before driving onto the sidewalk, accelerating and aiming at the demonstrators, who ran to avoid being hit.
"A dangerous man is being held accountable for unleashing terror on peaceful demonstrators who were simply exercising their First Amendment right. Thankfully, the victims were not physically harmed and we secured justice on their behalf," DA Katz said.