(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced the indictment of Treyvius Tunstall, a 22-year-old man accused of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, after he allegedly attacked an employee and customers inside, as well as in the parking lot, of a Dick’s Sporting Goods store in Patchogue.
“When the defendant decided to walk into a store armed with a machete, his intentions were clear. He chose to cause harm that day,” said Tierney. “Residents and shoppers of Suffolk County should be able to go about their day without feeling like they have to look over their shoulders and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office intends to do everything it can to keep all our residents safe”.
Tunstall is charged with: Attempted Murder in the Second Degree; Assault in the First Degree; Two Counts of Assault in the Second Degree; Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third and Fourth Degree.
According to the investigation, Tunstall allegedly went to Dick’s Sporting Goods store located in Westfield Mall in Bay Shore and purchased a machete, a hunting knife and a backpack. The defendant attempted to purchase a rifle at this location as well, however, he was told by a store clerk that they did not sell rifles at that location. It was then suggested that the defendant go to the Dick’s Sporting Goods store located in Patchogue where rifles were sold. The defendant went to the Patchogue location with the hunting knife and machete inside of his backpack and inquired about purchasing the rifle. The defendant, without provocation or warning, abruptly left the counter and proceeded to attack people at random with the machete. The defendant attacked a store manager, striking him numerous times in the head, arms and wrist, causing the manager to fall to the floor. While the victim was on the floor, the defendant continued attacking him with the machete. Tunstall stopped and walked away only to return to the victim laying on the floor and began repeatedly striking him. Eventually the defendant left the store manager on the floor and began to make his way through the store where he found his second victim, a customer of the store. The defendant struck the customer with the machete on the back of the head, causing a laceration as well as bruising to the customer’s wrist as a result of the victim attempting to shield his head from the defendant.
After assaulting the second victim, the defendant exited the store and without saying a word struck a third store customer on the shoulder causing a laceration. After striking the third victim with the machete, the defendant chased the third victim through the parking lot of the store where the victim was eventually able to get away from the defendant.
The defendant ran into a nearby wooded area and a short time later was arrested. Suffolk County Police Department recovered a machete believed to be the weapon used by the defendant. Both the second and third victims were treated for their injuries by the Patchogue Ambulance Co. The store manager was treated at Stony Brook University Hospital, where he underwent surgery. He suffered a skull fracture, a fractured wrist and severed tendons and nerves in both hands. It is unclear at present if the victim will ever regain the use of his fingers.
On August 29, 2022, at the arraignment on the indictment, the Honorable Judge Anthony Senft ordered the defendant held on bail set in the amount of $1 million cash/$2 million bond or $10 million partially secured bond. Orders of protection were signed for all three victims.
Tunstall is being represented by the Legal Aid Society. His next court date is September 26, 2022.
SCDAO
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