Press Release

BOYFRIEND CHARGED WITH SLASHING WOMAN IN THE FACE AND ARM AS SHE SAT IN HOSPITAL BESIDE SICK BABY

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz today announced that a Jamaica resident has been charged with assault for viciously slashing his girlfriend with a sharp object as she sat beside their sick baby. The unprovoked attack allegedly happened early Sunday morning at Jamaica Hospital.

District Attorney Katz said, “The victim in this case fell asleep while watching over her sick baby in the hospital. She was awakened by her boyfriend, who allegedly stood over her with a sharp instrument and then slashed her in both her arm and face requiring 120 stitches.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Alexander Fitzpatrick, 24, of 159th Street in Jamaica, Queens. Fitzpatrick was arraigned yesterday morning before Queens Criminal Court Judge Toni Cimino on a complaint charging him with first-degree assault, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child. Judge Cimino remanded the defendant and set his return to court date for January 10, 2020. If convicted, Fitzpatrick faces up to 25 years in prison.

According to the charges, the victim was in a room with her 6-month-old daughter, who was admitted to Jamaica Hospital as a patient. The mother sat in a chair beside her daughter and fell asleep. Shortly after 1 a.m., she awoke to see her child’s father standing over her with a sharp instrument. Fitzpatrick allegedly said in sum and substance, I’m going to jail, and began slashing the woman with the sharp object. The 25-year-old victim sustained a deep wounds to her left arm and her face, which extended from her ear to her nose. The victim required a total of approximately 120 stitches to close all the wounds.

Assistant District Attorney Melissa Medilien, of the District Attorney’s Domestic Violence Bureau, is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Kelly Sessoms-Newton, Bureau Chief, Karen L. Ross, Deputy Bureau Chief, Mary Kate Quinn, Supervisor, and under the overall supervision of the Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Daniel A. Saunders.

It should be noted that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

**Criminal complaints and indictments are accusations. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.