Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Mark Albano, 34, has been charged with murder, attempted murder, attempted assault and other crimes for three separate stabbing incidents. The defendant allegedly killed a man at the Grand Avenue-Newton subway station on April 23, 2021 and was apprehended on Saturday, May 8^th, following two knife attacks within hours of each other in Elmhurst, Queens.

District Attorney Katz said, “A brutal, unprovoked killing in a subway station stokes dread throughout the entire city. The successful re-opening of our borough and our city depends on New Yorkers being safe and feeling safe, on our streets and in our subways. This defendant’s alleged, senseless attacks resulted in one man being killed and another partially paralyzed. My Office is committed to holding accountable those who would hold the city hostage to fear with acts of violence.”

Albano, of 82^nd Street in Elmhurst, Queens, was arraigned on three separate criminal complaints Sunday before Queens Criminal Court Judge Toko Serita.

Regarding the April 23^rd incident, Albano is charged with murder in the second degree, tampering with physical evidence and criminal possession of a weapon.

In the May 7th incident, the defendant is charged with attempted murder in the second degree, assault in the first and second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree.

In the May 8th incident, the defendant is charged with attempted assault in the first degree, assault in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.

Defendant Albano’s next Court date was today. If convicted on all three cases, the defendant faces up to 25 years-to-life in prison for the April 23^rd homicide, up to 25 years for the May 7^th stabbing and up to 15 years in prison for the May8th incident.

District Attorney Katz said that, on April 23, 2021, the defendant approached Leroy Williams, 57, on the platform of the Grand Avenue-Newton subway station around 3:30 a.m. and allegedly stabbed him once in the chest. Williams died as a result of the injury.

According to the charges, around 8 p.m. on Friday, May 7, 2021, at 51^st Avenue near 90^th Street, the defendant approached a man from behind and allegedly stabbed him multiple times in the upper back area. The victim, who is 31-years-old, collapsed to the ground in pain. But he was able to see Albano running past him carrying a gray bag.

The victim in this case was rushed to an area hospital. He sustained partial paralysis as a result of the stabbing.

On May 8, 2021 at approximately 5:15 a.m., as outlined in the complaint, the defendant was inside the basement of a building on Van Loon Street when he confronted another man. The defendant allegedly took out a knife and stabbed the 40-year-old victim. The man sustained wounds to his arm and armpit. When police arrived on the scene, the victim was lying in a pool of blood.

The victim of the Saturday stabbing was also taken to a nearby hospital where he received stitches and staples to close the open wounds.

Police apprehended Albano several blocks away from the scene of the Saturday stabbing carrying a bag, which allegedly contained a knife.

The investigation was conducted by Detectives Ronald Nalbach and Thompson Wen of the New York City Police Department’s 110^th Precinct Detective Squad and Officer Chris Laqua of NYPD 110^th Precinct.

Assistant District Attorney Courtney Finnerty, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, is prosecuting the cases under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Peter J. McCormack III, Senior Deputy Bureau Chief, John Kosinski and Karen Ross, Deputy Bureau Chiefs and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Daniel A. Saunders.