NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A Queens man was charged on Friday with attempted murder after allegedly repeatedly beating a deli worker in Woodside, prosecutors said.
Osvel Diaz, 29, was arraigned for allegedly beating Abdul Alshawish, a 62-year-old worker at the Sunnyside Mini Mart, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced. Diaz allegedly beat the victim until he was unconscious and then continued to kick him while he lay on the floor.
According to court documents, video surveillance shows Diaz at the deli on June 17 around 11:15 p.m., repeatedly punching and kicking Alshawish in the face, body, and head until the victim appears unconscious.
The defendant then allegedly continues to kick Alshawish in the face and head while he is unconscious, according to prosecutors. Alshawish’s head seems to strike against a store counter after being kicked.
Police arrived at the scene after receiving a call and found Alshawish with multiple injuries about the body and severe swelling to the head.
Alshawish was taken to NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst where he is still being treated for his injuries including a brain hemorrhage, facial fractures, a mid-face separation and fractured eye socket, nose and sinuses, prosecutors said.
The motive for the attack was not immediately clear.
Diaz was also charged in two separate complaints with criminal mischief, making graffiti and possession of graffiti instruments.
According to court documents, he was allegedly seen on video surveillance on January 24 spraying paint on the side of a florist in Maspeth. The following day, he was also allegedly seen spraying black paint on a private home in Woodside.
“The defendant is alleged to have brutally beaten a defenseless store employee until he was unconscious and then went on to repeatedly kick the motionless victim in the head,” Katz said. “Business owners and their workers should never have to fear that they will be the targets of violence. We will do everything we can to protect shopkeepers because when our local businesses thrive, our communities thrive.”
Diaz is set to return to court on July 2. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.