Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Donny Ubiera, 32, has been charged with attempted murder, assault and other crimes for three attacks last week. Ubiera allegedly used a nail-embedded board to strike a man inside a Roosevelt Avenue bakery on June 8, 2022. The defendant is also accused of knife attacks on two men on subway platforms in Queens on June 10th and June 11^th.

District Attorney Katz said, “The subway system provides a crucial lifeline to millions of New Yorkers and the safety of our riders is paramount. As alleged, the defendant began his three days of terror by violently attacking a man inside a bakery, before going on a rampage inside the transit system and repeatedly stabbing two straphangers without provocation over the course of two days. Violence on our subways will never be tolerated and those who display a blatant disregard for the lives of fellow residents will be held accountable. The defendant now faces serious criminal charges for his actions.”

Ubiera, of 202^nd Street in Bayside, Queens, was arraigned today before Queens Criminal Court Judge Diego Friere on two separate complaints. In one criminal complaint, the defendant is charged with assault in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the third and fourth degree. In a second complaint, Ubiera is charged with attempted murder in the second degree, assault in the first and second degree, robbery in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the third and fourth degree. Judge Friere ordered the defendant to return to Court on July 6, 2022. Ubiera faces up to 50 years in prison, if convicted.

District Attorney Katz said, according to the charges, at approximately 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, the defendant approached a man from behind as he entered a bakery near Warren Street and Roosevelt Avenue. The defendant was allegedly holding a board with a nail protruding from it in one hand and a rock in the other and in sum and substance yelled for the man to ‘come outside and fight me!’ The victim attempted to evade the defendant by running behind the bakery counter, but Ubiera allegedly reached over and struck him on the head with the nail-imbedded board.

The victim was treated at an area hospital.

Continuing, according to the charges, at approximately 8:40 a.m. on Friday, June 10^th, the defendant stood over a man as he sat on a bench waiting for a train at the Queens Plaza subway station. The victim was looking at his phone when he realized the defendant was hovering over him and heard something drop to the floor. The victim spotted the knife and that is when the defendant allegedly picked it up and mumbled something that was inaudible.

Without provocation, the DA said, the defendant allegedly began to stab and slash the man. The victim raised his hands to protect himself, but Ubiera did not relent. The victim sustained numerous cuts and slash wounds to his hands, fingers and face.

According to the charges, the defendant allegedly fled the scene but was observed by two officers allegedly throwing two cellphones, one of which belonged to the victim who had been attacked.

The victim was taken to a local hospital where he required thirty-six stitches to close his wounds.

The following day, on June 11^th, at approximately 7:15 a.m. at the 74^th Street and Roosevelt Avenue subway station, the defendant approached a group of four to five people waiting for the train. Again, without provocation, Ubiera allegedly struck one of the men from behind and fled. The victim was taken to a local hospital and treated for a stab wound to his neck. This victim required two life-saving surgeries in order to repair the damage from the puncture wound.

The defendant was arrested yesterday on Utopia Parkway in Whitestone, Queens, by detectives who recognized his image from video surveillance footage

The investigation was conducted by Detective John Lombardi of the Queens Robbery Squad and Detective Kevin Deleon of Queens Detective Area 115 of the New York City Police Department.

Assistant District Attorney Ryan Nicolosi, of the Career Criminal Major Case Bureau, is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Shawn Clark, Bureau Chief, Michael Whitney, Deputy Bureau Chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Supreme Court Trials Pishoy Yacoub.