Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Thomas Saxton, 34, has been charged with criminal possession of a weapon, menacing, endangering the welfare of a child and other crimes. The defendant allegedly threatened to shoot his estranged wife while she held their child inside Cohen Children’s Medical Center yesterday afternoon. Responding police stopped the defendant near his vehicle and allegedly recovered two “ghost guns” on Saxton’s person.

District Attorney Katz said, “This defendant allegedly threatened to shoot his wife in a hospital that specializes in treating children. This potentially deadly threat was made all the more frightening when police found illegal and untraceable firearms on the defendant. This growing prevalence of “ghost guns” is adding to the chaos and bloodshed in our neighborhoods. My Office will continue to do everything possible to stop the flow of these and all illegal firearms. The defendant has been apprehended and now faces very serious charges.”

Saxton, of Baisley Avenue in East Rockaway, Long Island, was arraigned last night before Queens Criminal Court Judge Gershuny on a 14-count criminal complaint. The defendant is charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the second and fourth degree, criminal possession of a firearm, menacing in the second degree, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, aggravated harassment in the second degree, endangering the welfare of a child and firearms; unlawful possession of pistol or revolver ammunition. Judge Gershuny set the defendant’s return date for February 22, 2022. Saxton faces up to 15 years in prison, if convicted.

According to the charges, soon after 12 noon on Thursday inside Cohen Children’s Medical Center the defendant allegedly pulled out a gun and threatened his wife as she held their two-year-old child in her arms. Saxton allegedly said in sum and substance that he would kill her in front of all the people there. Moments later, the defendant walked out of the 76th Avenue medical facility in Glen Oaks, Queens, and then called his wife on the phone. At that point, he allegedly threatened her again – stating in sum and substance that he would kill her in her sleep.

DA Katz said, police responded to the scene and found the defendant in the hospital’s parking lot. At that time, the defendant dropped a loaded magazine to the ground. Police allegedly recovered a loaded .10mm pistol, a .9mm pistol and ammunition for both firearms from the defendant. Police also allegedly found a plastic bag containing cocaine in the defendant’s wallet.

The investigation was conducted by Police Officer Matthew Knudsen of the New York City Police Department’s 105^th Precinct.

The case is being prosecuted by the District Attorney’s Domestic Violence Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Kenneth Appelbaum, Acting Bureau Chief, Audra Beerman, Deputy Bureau Chief, Mary Kate Quinn, Assistant Deputy Bureau Chief, Howard McCallum, Supervisor, and under the overall supervision Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Daniel Saunders.