An alleged armed assault last week in a commercial corridor on Staten Island left one man in a medically induced coma and the other facing attempted murder charges.
The defendant, 28-year-old Justin Melendez, was arraigned Sept. 23 in Criminal Court on charges that include attempted murder and first-degree assault in connection with the Sept. 21 attack in Mariners Harbor.
Melendez, 28, who resides on Van Pelt Avenue within walking distance of the assault, struck the victim in the head with a baseball bat, according to a criminal complaint.
Listed in jail records at 5 feet, 10 inches tall and 210 pounds, the defendant had no prior record with the NYPD at the time of the attack, a law enforcement source said.
Defense attorney Mario Gallucci noted Monday that his office is “conducting its own investigation into this matter.”
“We believe that once our investigation has concluded, my client will be vindicated,” Gallucci said.
Bail was set in Criminal Court at $300,000 cash or $1 million bond. As of Monday, Melendez had not posted bail and was being held on Rikers Island, records show.
The attack
Police investigators allege they obtained video surveillance showing the violence unfold at around 10 p.m. on the 2200 block of Forest Avenue.
An NYPD spokesperson described the attack as “unprovoked.” It wasn’t clear Monday if the two men knew each other.
The victim, a 34-year old-man, suffered a fractured skull, cervical spine fracture, brain swelling and bleeding from the ears — ultimately forcing doctors to place him in a medically induced coma, the complaint continued.
Melendez was arrested three days later, records show.
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