Treyvius Turnstall pleaded “not guilty” after being charged with attempted murder and assault in connection with an attack on three people with the machete he had just bought at the “Dick’s Sporting Goods” store in Long Island (NY) .
The young man of 22 years had been arrested after the incident of 12 August that occurred on the first floor of a sporting goods store in Patchogue, Suffolk County.
Detectives say a video showed Turnstall buying a knife, a backpack and the same machete that was later used in the attack, which was recovered at the scene.
Turnstall reportedly gave his ID to a worker behind the counter and then blew up, for unknown reasons. “I think the manager asked him if there was anything he could help him with and then, without provocation… without any comment, he just started attacking him,” County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said.
The manager suffered a fractured skull and wrist, as well as damage to the tendons and nerves in both hands. “He struck the manager multiple times in the head, neck and wrist, causing him to fall to the ground,” prosecutor Tierney said. “While the victim was on the floor, Turnstall continued to attack him with the machete and continued to hit him with the gun.”
The manager was not the only victim. Investigators say Turnstall also attacked two patrons, one before running off and the other in the parking lot. Police caught him near the scene. He was charged with attempted murder and assault and faces a maximum sentence of 25 years. His history includes a misdemeanor record, reported ABC News.
Tierney detailed that the viscous attack occurred after Turnstall entered another “Dick’s Sporting Goods” store in Bayshore. The prosecutor said Turnstall tried to buy a rifle but was told there was none there, but he could get one at the Patchogue headquarters.