NEW YORK — A homeless man admitted to killing another man inside a Long Island laundromat after an argument led to a machete attack, according to the district attorney.
Roberto Velasquez pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in the deadly March 2023 attack at the 24-hour laundromat in Valley Stream, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said Wednesday. Velasquez, 32, is expected to be sentenced to more than 21 years in prison at his next court appearance on March 15, a year and one day after he killed Michael Oliver.
Donnelly detailed the attack which broke out around 2am after an argument broke out between the two men who had been sleeping overnight at the laundromat on Merrick Road. The couple was sitting next to each other and began arguing, at which point Velasquez stood up, grabbed a duffel bag, and hit Oliver with it.
The contents of the bag spilled onto the floor, revealing the large machete that was in the bag. Velasquez grabbed the gun and pointed it at Oliver twice, then stopped and then cut him on the left leg, just above the knee, according to the charges.
Oliver, 58, fell to the ground bleeding profusely, the district attorney said. He was taken to North Shore-Manhasset University Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery. He survived the surgery, but suffered significant damage to his organs due to blood loss and infection. He died 10 days later.
Velasquez gathered his things and ran out of the laundromat, but was arrested by Nassau County police later that day in Lynbrook.
Attorney information for Velasquez was not immediately available.
2024-02-01 02:23:59
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