Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Osvel Diaz pleaded guilty to attempted murder and other crimes for the beating of a 62-year-old worker at the Sunnyside Mini Market in Woodside in June 2024. The defendant pummeled the victim until he was unconscious and then continued to assault him as he lay on the deli floor.

District Attorney Katz said: “This was a senseless and violent assault of a deli worker that nearly left the 62-year-old man dead. Osvel Diaz repeatedly punched and kicked Abdul Alshawish until he left the man with a brain hemorrhage, facial fractures, a broken eye socket and litany of other injuries. Tragically, Alshawish must live with a traumatic brain injury and cognitive impairments for the rest of his life because of this defendant. Our thoughts are with the victim as he continues to recover from his extensive injuries.”

Diaz, 31, of Forest Hills, pleaded guilty yesterday to attempted murder in the second degree, two counts of assault in the first degree, petit larceny and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree before Queens Supreme Court Justice John Zoll. Justice Zoll indicated that he will sentence the defendant to 19 years in prison on June 29.

District Attorney Katz said that, according to the charges and investigation on June 17, 2024, at approximately 11:17 p.m., Diaz entered the Sunnyside Mini Mart at 63-20 Broadway. He and deli worker Abdul Alshawish, who was standing in front of the counter, bumped into one another.

Seconds later, Diaz began punching Alshawish repeatedly in the head. Diaz threw Alshawish to the ground and continued to punch and kick him repeatedly in the head, face and body. While the worker was still on the floor, Diaz kicked him in the head and knocked Alshawish unconscious. Diaz continued the assault with multiple kicks to Alshawish’s head and face.

The victim was taken to a local hospital where he was treated for a brain hemorrhage, facial fractures, a mid-face separation, broken teeth and a fractured eye socket, nose and sinuses. He later underwent multiple surgeries and was diagnosed with a moderate traumatic brain injury and cognitive impairments.

Diaz was apprehended on June 26, 2024, in Forest Hills.

Assistant District Attorney Thomas Salmon of the District Attorney’s Career Criminal Major Crimes Bureau is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Michael Whitney, Bureau Chief, Timothy Regan, Deputy Chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Shawn Clark.