A man was stabbed in the stomach at an amusement park on Long Island, New York, after two families got into a fight in front of several children.
The altercation unfolded at around 4.50pm on Sunday at Adventureland Amusement Park when two families got into a dispute in front of the Mystery Mansion ride, according to Suffolk County Police.
During the row, Daniel Tomasky, 42, allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed his acquaintance James Burns, 47.
Four children, including Tomasky’s five-year-old son, witnessed the attack, according to court documents.
Burns, who is from Florida, was rushed to hospital in a serious condition, police said.
He underwent emergency surgery and remains in a critical but stable condition.
Tomasky, of Shirley, was arrested and held overnight in police custody.
On Monday, he pleaded not guilty to several charges including assault with intent to cause serious injury, criminal possession of a weapon, and child endangerment. He faces five to 25 years in prison if convicted.
Prosecutors said that video footage showed Tomasky had tried to obstruct the investigation by dumping the weapon in a sewer after the fight.
They asked Judge Johnathan Bloom to issue protective orders for the four minor witnesses and to set Tomasky’s bail at $100,000, citing his six prior convictions.
Tomasky’s lawyer Robert Macedonio, meanwhile, asked the judge to set bail at $25,000 and allow Tomasky to see his son while out on bail.
“My client maintains his innocence here,” said Macedonio. “He has not had a felony in over a decade and has never failed to appear in court.”
His defense also claimed that the victim had attacked the suspect’s wife and knocked her out during the altercation.
Bloom set Tomasky’s bail at $50,000 cash or $100,000 bond.
He ruled that he would not issue a protective order against Tomasky’s own child but did for the three other minor witnesses as well as for Burns.
According to defense attorney George Duncan, his client later posted bail.
Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Pacino revealed that he was also at the attraction with his family when the incident unfolded.
“Walking from the antique car ride area of the park, I saw a man sitting on a picnic bench bleeding and clenching his abdomen just after being stabbed,” he wrote on Facebook .
“I hope the victim makes a full recovery from this senseless act of violence, which sadly unfolded in a family theme park.”
Another witness told News 12 that the incident was “very sad because we’re here with kids”.
“This is a children’s amusement park, and families are just coming here with their kids to have a good time,” Jessie Hagelstein, of Ronkonkoma, said.
“It’s a little unsettling, but again, it’s becoming more and more not news. It’s more common and expected,” added another witness, Mike LaRocca.
A spokesperson from the park said in a statement that two families “in an external dispute got into a confrontation at the park”. Park security responded to secure the scene and called police.
The area of the park where the incident occurred was briefly closed but had reopened by 8pm.
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