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A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC. Gothamist Listen Live Donate News Brooklyn man charged with assault after allegedly chasing woman with hammer, pushing boy By Giulia Heyward Published Jul 31, 2026 at 6:17 p.m. ET
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A Brooklyn man is facing charges of assault and other crimes after authorities say he chased a woman while wielding a hammer and injured others in Queens earlier this month.
The Queens district attorney also charged 42-year-old Shaleek Brunson with criminal possession of a weapon, endangering the welfare of a child and trespassing on Friday.
Officials said Brunson approached the woman while wielding the hammer near the Queens Center Mall in Elmhurst around 11 a.m. on July 28.
The woman ran down nearby Woodhaven Boulevard, taking refuge at the Jewish Institute of Queens, according to the Queens district attorney’s office.
Officials said Brunson pursued her into the fenced-in schoolyard, pushing aside an 8-year-old boy who had been standing nearby. The boy received a cut to his head that required six stitches, according to the DA’s office.
Brunson then bit a school employee who tried to apprehend him, officials said. That employee, who held onto Brunson until police arrived, was later treated at a hospital, they said.
“This daytime assault shattered the sense of safety and security for everyone connected to this school and neighborhood,” Queens DA Melinda Katz said in a statement. “I thank the brave first responders who apprehended this defendant before he could harm another person.”
Attorney information for Brunson was not made immediately available to Gothamist. His next court date is Aug. 3.
Brunson faces up to 14 years in prison if convicted.
Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.
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