In a verdict that brings closure to a disturbing incident from 2022, William Blount has been convicted for a violent hammer attack on a woman in the Queens Plaza subway station. The Queens District Attorney's office reports Blount was found guilty of first-degree robbery, first-degree assault, and other crimes after viciously assaulting the victim who was merely attempting to commute.
According to the Queens District Attorney's announcement, Blount approached the 58-year-old woman from behind, kicked her down the stairs, and proceeded to brutally strike her head with a hammer 13 times before seizing her tote bag. The intervention of emergency medical personnel was crucial, significantly reducing swelling of the woman's brain and enabling her to eventually recover.
As reported by the prosecution, security footage was instrumental in mapping Blount's movements post-attack, leading to his arrest just three days later. A search warrant executed at a relative's house where he took refuge resulted in the discovery of the hammer, a black cane, and the victim's tote bag. Forensic analysis confirmed a mix of DNA from both Blount and the victim on the hammer, intertwining evidence with this horrific act, as detailed by the same press release.
Blount, 60, with prior known residence on William Street in Manhattan, was acquitted of attempted murder charges but still faces up to 25 years to life in prison when sentenced on May 7. The conviction follows a six-week jury trial that began on February 24. Supreme Court John Zoll, who presided over the trial, will determine Blount's fate come sentencing day. The victim's harrowing ordeal culminated in multiple skull fractures and necessitated a bilateral craniectomy to repair her skull with titanium mesh, alongside treatment for a broken finger and additional injuries.
