HEMPSTEAD, NY — A Wyandanch man was indicted on five counts of attempted murder and other charges in connection with multiple stabbings at a Hempstead house party in October, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said Friday. Five partygoers suffered life-threatening injuries in the stabbings, the DA said.
Moses Brooks, 50, pleaded not guilty.
"This defendant went on an alleged stabbing spree outside of a house party, viciously and indiscriminately slashing and stabbing at partygoers, and ultimately injured a total of eight people," Donnelly said in a news release. "Five of those victims cooperating with NCDA’s prosecution suffered extensive injuries that required emergency life-saving medical intervention, including severed arteries and significant blood loss. Several victims suffered deep gashes to their arms and have permanent mobility loss. After his arrest for this nearly deadly rampage, the defendant allegedly attempted to tamper with the prosecution, offering money to victims for their silence. This kind of random, brutal violence will not go unchecked in Nassau County."
Around 6:30 a.m. Oct. 6, Brooks was at a crowded basement house party on Linden Place in Hempstead, according to court documents. During the party, Brooks was accused of exposing himself to a 26-year-old partygoer, the DA said.
When the woman walked away, Brooks followed her and rubbed his penis against her arm, prosecutors said. Afraid after the incident, the woman told her friends what happened, and Brooks was removed from the house, authorities said.
Outside of the home, Brooks and several other partygoers became involved in an argument, officials said. Brooks then pulled out a knife and began "indiscriminately slashing and stabbing" at people congregated in the front yard of the home, investigators said.
Five partygoers suffered extensive cuts and injuries and were each privately taken to Mercy Hospital for treatment, the DA said.
One woman's radial artery was severed when her arm was slashed and required emergency life-saving surgery, officials said. Because of the injury, she lost mobility in her hand, Donnelly said.
Another person's tendons and ligaments were slashed, which caused permanent injury and the loss of mobility in the victim’s hand, prosecutors said.
Two additional people were both stabbed on the left side of their necks, nearly severing their carotid artery and jugular, respectively, the DA said.
Another person's leg was slashed near the femoral artery, and they had difficulty standing for a month after the attack, investigators said.
Brooks fled the house after the stabbings, authorities said. He was arrested at LaGuardia Airport on Oct. 19 by members of the Port Authority and Nassau County police departments disembarking from a flight returning to New York from Florida, officials said.
After his arrest, Brooks tried to bribe victims with cash to prevent them from cooperating with the prosecution, the DA said.
Brooks was charged with five counts of second-degree attempted murder; five counts of first-degree assault; five counts of second-degree assault; one count of first-degree reckless endangerment; one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon; one count of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon; one count of public lewdness; one count of third-degree sexual abuse; one count of fourth-degree criminal solicitation; one count of attempting to bribe a witness; and one count of fourth-degree tampering with a witness.
Brooks is represented by Christopher Cassar, who said his client is innocent. Cassar said the owners of the house on Linden Place that Brooks was at have been "holding an illegal club and selling liquor without a liquor license."
"This illegal club at the Linden Place home have several bouncers, bartenders and DJs," Cassar told Patch. "This illegal club at the Linden Place home has been operating for many years. On October 6, 2024, at approximately 6:30 a.m., in the crowded basement at the Linden Club, the patrons were all intoxicated and a massive fight breaks out [sic]. Several people have knives and attack Mr. Brooks and other patrons. During this massive fight in the crowded basement, many people were injured during this intoxicated brawl. The facts and evidence will demonstrate that
Mr. Brooks is not guilty of these charges and was overcharged by the Nassau District Attorney’s Office."
Bail was set at $500K cash, $1M bond, and $2.5 million partially secured bond. He is due back in court on Dec. 20.
He faces up to 25 years to life in prison consecutively on each of the attempted murder counts, as well as potential consecutive sentences on the attempted bribery and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon counts.
