Photo Courtesy of DA Katz’s Office
DA Katz said the defendant “became enraged when he spotted Black Lives Matter protesters demonstrating in the neighborhood. The moments that followed were sheer terror for the victims.”
By Forum Staff
A borough grand jury has indicted a Flushing man for allegedly attacking peaceful demonstrators in Whitestone in June 2020, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz recently announced.
Frank Cavalluzzi, 55, was arraigned on a 39-count indictment charging him with nine counts of attempted murder in the second degree, nine counts of attempted assault in the first and second degree, one count of reckless endangerment in the first degree, nine counts of menacing in the second degree, one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, and reckless driving. Cavalluzzi was ordered to return to court on May 5.
According to the charges, at approximately 3:45 p.m. on June 2, at the intersection of the Cross Island Parkway service road and Clintonville Street, a group of roughly a dozen peaceful demonstrators held up signs and posters calling for justice in the killing of George Floyd. Cavalluzzi was one of the many drivers that passed by the demonstrators. He began to yell at the protesters and suddenly pulled over and got out of his SUV. Cavalluzzi then allegedly yelled to the demonstrators “You are in the wrong neighborhood” and “I will kill you.”
Photo Courtesy of Google
The attack allegedly occurred at the intersection of the Cross Island Parkway service road and Clintonville Street.
Cavalluzzi allegedly was wearing a device attached to his wrist featuring four blades with serrated edges protruding from a glove when he allegedly started to chase after a young man in a threatening manner and shouted at the victim in anger. He then re-entered his vehicle, made a quick U-turn and allegedly drove his SUV onto the sidewalk where the protesters were still standing. Cavalluzzi then drove down the length of the sidewalk as the protesters ran into the street and climbed fences in order to avoid being hit by his vehicle. Cavalluzzi allegedly revved the engine and even maneuvered between a fence and a street light pole trying to get the victims who were fleeing in fear.
Katz said that Cavalluzzi “became enraged when he spotted Black Lives Matter protesters demonstrating in the neighborhood. The moments that followed were sheer terror for the victims. As alleged, the defendant donned a glove made of knives—something resembling a horror movie prop—and chased the peaceful protesters on foot. Then with people running for their lives, he allegedly stepped up the attack by getting back in his SUV and tried to run the victims over with the nearly two-ton vehicle.”
If convicted, Cavalluzzi faces up to 25 years in prison for each victim.
