VALLEY STREAM, N.Y. (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — A man pleaded guilty on Wednesday to manslaughter charges relating to a March 2023 machete attack inside of a laundromat in Valley Stream, New York, the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office said.
Roberto Velasquez, 32, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter, a class-B felony. He will return to court on March 15, where he is expected to be sentenced to 21.5 years in prison, prosecutors said.
According to the charges, Velasquez, an unhoused man, was sleeping overnight at the 24-hour Laundry Palace in Valley Stream on March 14, 2023.
Velasquez was sitting in a chair next to Michael Oliver, 58, while several other people were in the laundromat, officials said.
At about 2:10 a.m., Velasquez and Oliver got into a verbal dispute, at which point the defendant got out of his chair and slammed Oliver with his duffle bag. A large machete fell out.
“Velasquez pulled a large machete out of his duffle bag and slashed at the victim multiple times, striking him in the leg and causing a massive injury with severe blood loss,” Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said.
The charges state that Velasquez grabbed his machete, swung it twice at Oliver’s back, and then hit him again right above the knee. He then gathered his bag and machete and fled, officials said.
The defendant was arrested by police the same day in Lynbrook, authorities said.
Oliver fell to the ground, bleeding profusely, and EMS transported him to North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset where he required emergency surgery.
The victim survived surgery, but suffered damage to his organs due to the blood loss and an infection. Oliver was put on life support, but succumbed to his injuries on March 24.
“Despite intensive life-saving measures, Michael Oliver tragically died at the hospital 10 days after the attack,” Donnelly said. “Now, this defendant will be held accountable for his violent outburst and taking another life.”