Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the guilty plea of ALEJANDRO PIEDRA, 31, for fatally stabbing 38-year-old Clemson Cockfield and injuring two others in the East Village in June 2024. PIEDRA pleaded guilty in a New York State Supreme Court to one count each of Murder in the Second Degree, Attempted Murder in the Second Degree and Assault in the Second Degree. Under the terms of his plea, he is expected to be sentenced on April 20, 2026 to 18 years-to-life in state prison.
“Alejandro Piedra escalated to deadly violence when he brutally stabbed three individuals in a busy neighborhood in the span of minutes,” said District Attorney Bragg. “As a result of this horrific conduct, Clemson Cockfield’s life was tragically taken, and Mr. Cockfield’s wife was seriously injured. I hope their family and loved ones can take comfort knowing there is accountability in this matter.”
As admitted in the defendant’s guilty plea, and according to court documents and statements made on the record in court, PIEDRA was previously acquainted with Mr. Cockfield. On June 23, 2024, at approximately 5:38 p.m., PIEDRA got into a physical altercation with Mr. Cockfield, Mr. Cockfield’s 40-year-old wife, and their 31-year-old acquaintance near the corner of East 13th Street and 1st Avenue. During the altercation, Mr. Cockfield and the 31-year-old each approached PIEDRA holding a piece of wood. PIEDRA took out a knife and stabbed the 31-year-old in the torso and head. The group and PIEDRA separated and walked away in opposite directions. The 31-year-old stopped at East 13th Street and Avenue A, where he received assistance and was taken to the hospital.
At approximately 5:50 p.m., Mr. Cockfield and his wife were walking on East 14th Street between 1st Avenue and Avenue A and noticed PIEDRA heading towards them from the opposite direction. A second physical altercation between Mr. Cockfield and PIEDRA ensued, during which another individual ran up behind PIEDRA and hit him in the back of the head with a lamp, which broke. PIEDRA ran after Mr. Cockfield and they continued fighting. When the two men briefly backed away from each other, PIEDRA took out a knife and walked to Mr. Cockfield’s wife, who was standing to the side of the street. PIEDRA proceeded to stab her several times, wounding her stomach, leg and neck, and causing her to fall to the ground.
Mr. Cockfield ran up behind PIEDRA and hit him with the broken lamp. PIEDRA stabbed Mr. Cockfield multiple times, including in the face and neck. Following the stabbing, PIEDRA went back to Mr. Cockfield’s wife and repeatedly stabbed her again. Mr. Cockfield and his wife eventually collapsed on the sidewalk a few feet away. Mr. Cockfield was pronounced dead at the hospital and his wife, then in critical condition, required emergency surgery.
PIEDRA was arrested at the scene and police officers recovered a knife.
Assistant D.A.s Daniel Makofsky (Trial Bureau 80) and Katherine Sullivan (Human Trafficking Unit) are handling the prosecution of this case, under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Siobhan Carty (Chief of Trial Bureau 80) and Executive Assistant D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Trial Preparation Assistant Delaney Vu (Trial Bureau 80) is providing valuable assistance in this case. Former Investigative Analysts Jessica Bern and Alexandra Schwartz also provided assistance in this case.
D.A. Bragg thanked the NYPD, particularly Detectives Jessica Torres, Matthew Santoro and Danielle Venuto of the 9th Precinct Detective Squad. He also thanked Detective Lawrence Wein of Detective Borough Manhattan South Homicide Squad.
Defendant Information:
ALEJANDRO PIEDRA
Brooklyn, NY
Convicted:
- Murder in the Second Degree, a class A-I felony, one count
- Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a class B felony, one count
- Assault in the Second Degree, a class D felony, one count
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