Francis Salud, 29, of Queens, plead guilty before a New York State Supreme Jury of the two highest charges against him. He admitted First and Second-degree Assault, in the slashing incidents of 2015 and 2016.
The trial found that the first slashing took place on October 18, 2015. In the garden behind Bellevue Hospital, Salud was arguing with an acquaintance when he escalated the situation by pulling out a knife and cutting the victim up his left arm and shoulder. The 30-year-old victim’s wounds required over 70 stitches to seal up.
The second incident was on January 16, 2016. This time the slashing was completely random. The victim, was identified as Anthony Smith, 30, was out to lunch with a friend when Salud charged at him, pushed him down and cut him. The facial wound stretched from the right ear to the side of the mouth, a six-inch gash which caused serious nerve damage. There was also a three-inch long cut on Smith’s back. Sewing up both wounds took over 150 stitches. Salud was identified and promptly arrested not even a week after on January 20.
Salud’s sentencing is set for July 11, the sentence for a first-degree assault is typically from 5 to 25 years in prison.
Tags: Slashing, NY District Attorney, Knife Violence
Photo: Courtesy of NYPD
