Man Indicted After Alleged Stabbing at Amityville Church Meeting; Victim Remains Hospitalized

A meeting inside a church basement in Amityville turned into the scene of a violent incident on Sept. 11, when police said a 65-year-old man was stabbed during a gathering at First United Methodist Church.

The accused, Daniel Escobar, 33, of Bay Shore, has been indicted in connection with the attack and has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors allege that Escobar stabbed the man in the neck during the meeting without provocation. The allegations have not been proven in court, and Escobar remains presumed innocent as the case moves forward.

Police Say Victim Was Attacked During Church Meeting

According to police accounts reported by local media, the incident happened around 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11, in the basement of First United Methodist Church in Amityville. Prosecutors said both Escobar and the victim were attending a meeting at the church when the stabbing allegedly occurred.

The victim, whose name has not been released publicly, suffered serious injuries. Prosecutors said the injured man managed to leave the church and reach a nearby building while bleeding heavily. Another attendee reportedly stepped in to help, applying pressure to the neck wound until police and emergency responders arrived.

Authorities have not released the identity of the person who helped the victim or confirmed whether that individual witnessed the alleged stabbing.

Victim Remains Hospitalized After Emergency Surgery

The victim was transported to the hospital with serious injuries following the attack.

According to the latest update reviewed in the case, prosecutors said the man was taken to Good Samaritan University Hospital, where he was intubated, sedated, placed on a ventilator, and underwent emergency surgery to stop severe bleeding. He remained hospitalized as of Sept. 23. No public report reviewed indicated that he had died.

Officials have not publicly released additional details about his long-term recovery or medical prognosis.

Suspect Arrested After Police Search

Police said Escobar fled following the alleged stabbing. Investigators later located him on Ackerson Boulevard in Bay Shore at 10:22 p.m., roughly two hours after the reported attack, and arrested him.

Prosecutors later alleged that the knife used in the stabbing was found tucked into Escobar’s waistband when he was taken into custody. That claim remains a prosecutorial allegation and has not been established through a court finding.

Escobar was initially charged with first-degree assault. After a grand jury proceeding, prosecutors announced an indictment that included second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, and two counts of second-degree assault. He pleaded not guilty.

Bail Set as Case Moves Through Court System

At his indictment arraignment, Supreme Court Justice John B. Collins set bail at $150,000 cash, $1.5 million bond, or a $1.5 million partially secured bond. The court also issued a protection order for the victim.

The next reported court appearance was scheduled for Oct. 26, though criminal court dates can change as cases develop.

Escobar’s attorney, Danielle Papa, said the case was still in its early stages and that she had received only part of the discovery materials. She said the defense would continue reviewing evidence as the legal process moves forward.

Investigators Have Not Confirmed a Motive

While prosecutors have outlined their allegations, several key questions remain unanswered.

Authorities have not publicly confirmed a motive for the alleged attack. The reviewed reporting also does not establish whether Escobar and the victim knew each other before the meeting.

The exact nature of the meeting held inside the church has also not been independently confirmed. Defense attorney Danielle Papa told Newsday she believed it was a Narcotics Anonymous meeting, but that description has not been verified by authorities or church officials.

Questions also remain about what happened immediately before the alleged stabbing, whether there was any conversation or confrontation, and whether additional evidence such as surveillance footage exists.

Church Community Awaiting More Answers

The confirmed connection between the victim and First United Methodist Church is that he was attending a meeting inside the building when the alleged attack happened.

Authorities have not confirmed whether the victim was a church member, volunteer, staff member, or regular meeting participant.

No public statement from church leadership was identified in the reviewed reporting. Newsday reported that church representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment after the incident.

Case Heads Toward Next Legal Steps

The case will now move through the criminal justice process, which may include evidence exchange, court motions, possible plea discussions, and a trial if the matter is not resolved earlier.

An indictment is a formal criminal accusation, not a finding of guilt. If the case goes to trial, prosecutors must prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.

For now, the case centers on an alleged attack that left a man seriously injured, an accused defendant facing major felony charges, and unanswered questions that will likely be addressed as court proceedings continue.