A Forest Hills man pleaded guilty to attempted murder and other crimes for the savage beating of a 62-year-old deli worker in Woodside in June 2024.
Osvel Diaz, 31, of 62nd Drive, admitted he pummeled the victim inside the Sunnyside Mini Market on Broadway until he was unconscious and then continued to assault him as he lay prone on the floor of the store. Diaz pleaded guilty Monday to attempted murder in the second degree, two counts of assault in the first degree, petit larceny and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.
“This was a senseless and violent assault of a deli worker that nearly left the 62-year-old man dead,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said.
According to the charges and investigation, at 11:17 p.m. on June 17, 2024, Diaz entered the Sunnyside Mini Market at 63-20 Broadway in Woodside and bumped into deli worker Abdul Alshawish, who was standing in front of the counter. Seconds later, Diaz flew into a rage and began punching Alshawish repeatedly in the head. Diaz threw Alshawish to the floor and continued to punch and kick him in the head, face and body.
According to the charges, while the worker was still on the floor, Diaz kicked him in the head and knocked Alshawish unconscious. During the beatdown, one man could be seen fleeing the store while a second bystander tried to intervene and retreated. Diaz briefly walked out of the store only to return moments later to deliver more kicks to the victim’s head, face and body.
The assault was caught on video surveillance that showed the back of Alshawish’s head smashing into a metal counter with each sickening blow.
Police from the 108th Precinct responded to a 911 call of an assault in progress and arrived on the scene after Diaz fled the location. Officers found Alshawish unconscious and unresponsive. EMS rushed him to Elmhurst Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition and treated for a brain hemorrhage, facial fractures, a mid-face separation, broken teeth and a fractured eye socket, nose and sinuses. He later underwent multiple surgeries and was diagnosed with a moderate traumatic brain injury and cognitive impairments.
As Diaz was perp-walked out of the 108th Precinct in Long Island City he was seen with many tattoos, including one with “Killer” written on his arm.Photo by Dean Moses
Detectives and the NYPD Warrants Squad tracked down Diaz at his home on 62nd Drive on June 26, 2024, but he did not go quietly. He was taken into custody following a brief standoff with a three-week-old baby inside the house, according to law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation. The infant was not injured during the takedown.
Diaz pleaded guilty on June 22 before Queens Supreme Court Justice John Zoll who indicated that he would sentence the defendant to 19 years in prison on June 29.
“Osvel Diaz repeatedly punched and kicked Abdul Alshawish until he left the man with a brain hemorrhage, facial fractures, a broken eye socket and a litany of other injuries,” Katz said. “Tragically, Alshawish must live with a traumatic brain injury and cognitive impairments for the rest of his life because of this defendant. Our thoughts are with the victim as he continues to recover from his extensive injuries.”