Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., announced the guilty plea of MICHAEL MCCLOSKEY, 42, for stabbing a 65-year-old carpenter in an unprovoked attack at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown in April 2024. MCCLOSKEY pleaded guilty in New York State Supreme Court to one count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree. Under the terms of his plea, he is expected to be sentenced on October 17, 2024 to a promised sentence of 13 years in state prison, followed by 5 years post-release supervision.

“Today, Michael McCloskey was held accountable for stabbing a man in an unprovoked attack at a public, densely populated transit hotspot,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Although the victim has thankfully recovered, he must live with the physical scars this attack has caused. We will continue to treat harmful conduct against commuters with the seriousness it deserves, and I thank our prosecutors for securing this strong outcome in court.”  

According to court documents and statements made on the record in court, and as admitted in the defendant’s guilty plea, on April 22, 2024, at approximately 5:40 a.m., the carpenter arrived at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, on his way to work, and waited for his co-worker. As he waited, he walked over to a pillar outside of the Hudson News store to sit and read. While the carpenter read, MCCLOSKEY, carrying a knife, came up behind him and, unprovoked, stabbed him nine times in the throat, neck, back and arm. The carpenter suffered from several lacerations, puncture wounds and substantial pain. He was sent to Bellevue Hospital where he received approximately 47 stitches and had to stay overnight for additional treatment and testing.   

Patrolling nearby, officers of the Port Authority Police Department heard screaming, ran over to the scene and arrested MCCLOSKEY, as he stood over the carpenter while holding a knife.   

Assistant D.A. Sidney Balman III is handling the prosecution of this case under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Annie Siegel (Deputy Chief of Trial Bureau 60), Harrison Schweiloch (Deputy Chief of Trial Bureau 60), Charles Whitt (Chief of Trial Bureau 60), and Executive Assistant D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Trial Preparation Assistant Timothy Savastano and Investigative Analyst John Everett (Trial Bureau 60) are providing valuable assistance in this case.  

D.A. Bragg thanked the Port Authority Police Department, particularly Officer Jordan Eugenis and Officer Antonio Peterson for their swift response to the scene, Detective Kevin Horowitz and Detective Alberto Barrera for their meticulous investigation after MCCLOSKEY’S arrest, and Lieutenant Amy Desthers for her leadership and efforts to facilitate interagency collaboration. He also thanked the additional officers who responded and rendered aid to the victim, and the Northwell Health EMTs, who treated the victim at the scene.  

Defendant Information:
MICHAEL MCCLOSKEY
Watsonville, CA

Convicted:

• Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a class B felony, one count

###