Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Luis Pallchisaca was indicted on charges of attempted murder, assault and weapon possession for a violent knife attack against another subway passenger on board the 7 train at the Mets-Willetts Point station in Corona in September. Pallchisaca approached a 25-year-old man as he boarded the subway, slashed the victim’s throat and stabbed the man in the back.

District Attorney Katz said: “A young man experienced every New Yorker’s worst nightmare when he was stabbed in the throat and back in an unprovoked attack on our subway system. As alleged, this defendant saw the 25-year-old victim enter the subway car and – without warning – repeatedly slashed the passenger and then fled the scene. The safety of our mass transit system is paramount, and we will aggressively prosecute those who bring disorder to our subways and buses.”

Pallchisaca, 21, of 112^th Street in Richmond Hill, was arraigned today on an indictment charging him with attempted murder in the second degree, assault in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree. Supreme Court Justice Stephanie Zaro ordered him to return to court on December 8. If convicted, Pallchisaca faces up to 25 years in prison.

District Attorney Katz said that, according to the indictment and investigation, on September 21, at approximately 11:30 p.m., Pallchisaca, who was wearing a sweatshirt and ripped jeans, was inside a 7 train at the Mets-Willets Point station when the 25-year-old victim entered the subway car.

Pallchisaca approached the victim from the front and, without any warning, allegedly slashed the man’s throat and then stabbed him in the back multiple times with what appeared to be a knife. He then fled the scene.

The victim was taken to a local hospital where he required surgery on his larynx and a chest tube to treat his injuries. He was also treated for stab wounds to his back.

Pallchisaca was arrested at his home on September 22. A court-authorized search warrant of the residence led to the recovery of a knife and the same sweatshirt, ripped jeans and black shoes Pallchisaca allegedly wore during the attack.

The investigation was conducted by Detective Jerry George of the NYPD’s Queens Transit Crime Squad.

Assistant District Attorney Samuel Pellegrino of the District Attorney’s Career Criminal Major Crimes Bureau is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Michael Whitney, Bureau Chief, Roni Piplani and Timothy Regan, Deputy Bureau Chiefs, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Shawn Clark.