Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Osvel Diaz was sentenced to 19 years in prison after pleading guilty to attempted murder and other crimes in the June 2024 beating of a 62-year-old deli worker inside the Sunnyside Mini Market in Woodside. The victim was viciously assaulted by the defendant until he was unconscious.

District Attorney Katz said: “A 62-year-old man, who was simply working in a Woodside bodega, was relentlessly pummeled by this defendant in an unprovoked attack. Osvel Diaz nearly killed Abdul Alshawish and left the employee with lifelong injuries. I thank my prosecutors for securing this lengthy sentence against the defendant and wish Mr. Alshawish the very best as he continues to recover from this senseless assault.”

Diaz, 31, of Forest Hills, pleaded guilty last month 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. Queens Supreme Court Justice John Zoll on Thursday sentenced Diaz to 19 years in prison and five years of post-release supervision.

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 multiple times in the head. Diaz threw Alshawish to the ground and repeatedly punched and kicked him in the face, body and head. While the victim was on the floor, Diaz continued to kick him in the head and knocked Alshawish unconscious. The defendant did not stop the assault and continued to kick Alshawish in the head and face.

As a result of the incident, Alshawish 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 prosecuted 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.