Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced on Monday, Jan. 16, that a Bronx man has been charged with attempted murder in the first degree and other related charges for barging into P.S. 69 Journey Prep with a knife and slashing two staff members. One was cut in the arm and the other in the neck.

According to the investigation, and as reported at the time by Norwood News, on April 14, just before the school day began, the defendant, Claudio Villar, 23, of the Bronx, entered P.S. 69 Journey Prep looking for a person he was dating and who worked at the school. He allegedly chased her down the hallway and started to punch her. A teacher and a school safety agent tried to stop the attack and in the process, were slashed with a knife by the defendant.

 

The teacher was slashed in the arm, and the school safety agent was struck in the neck. All three victims were treated for their injuries at a local hospital. The defendant fled the scene and later turned himself in to police. Although school was not in session at the time of the attack, some students were in the building for a morning program, along with additional staff.

 

In the context of the announcement of the charges, Clark said, “The defendant allegedly was beating a school staff member whom he knew, and the other staffers intervened and were slashed. We thank them for jeopardizing their safety to protect their co-worker and the school’s students, and are grateful to the other multiple staff members who intervened before the situation became much worse.” She added, “If there is one place where children should be safe, it’s in school.”

 

Clark said Villar was arraigned on Monday on attempted murder in the first degree, attempted murder in the second degree, attempted assault in the first degree, attempted assault on a peace officer, police officer, fireman or emergency medical services professional, three counts of second-degree assault, two counts of attempted assault in the second degree, three counts of third-degree assault, second-degree menacing, and two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon before Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas. Bail was set at $250,000 and Villar is due back in court on August 17.

 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Megan Leo of the Domestic Violence Bureau, under the supervision of Agata DiGiovanni, chief of the Domestic Violence Bureau, and under the overall supervision of Adrienne Giunta, deputy chief of the Special Victims Division, and Joseph Muroff, chief of the Special Victims Division.

 

Clark thanked School Safety Agent Evan Jacobs and the NYPD Detective Squad of the 43rd precinct for their work on the case.

Norwood News previously reported on the various points of view of those who were in favor of of retaining school safety agents under the purview of the NYPD, those who oppose the presence of school safety agents in schools, and those who oppose having school safety agents report to the NYPD and prefer to have them report to New York City Department of Education instead, as was foreseen under the De Blasio administration. That decision has since been reversed under the Adams administration.

 

Last year, as reported, to highlight Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Bronx District Attorney’s office organized its annual 5K run, while then newly appointed Gov. Kathy Hochul announced funding of $6.5 million to allow state-licensed service providers to offer survivors of domestic violence and their families options for assistance and support, instead of relying on shelter-based services. Representatives from the governor’s office said the funding was also to be used to enhance DV prevention programs.

 

Between 2017 and 2018, intimate partner homicides in the Bronx increased by 85.7 percent, from seven in 2017, to 13 in 2018, according to a 2019 report by the New York City DV Fatality Review Committee. Meanwhile, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in 2017 that one in four women, and one in seven men will be victims of DV or abuse in their lifetime.

 

We also reported on ways in which victims of domestic violence and / or stalking can protect themselves.

 

New York State’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline is available 27/7: 800-942-6906 (call), 844-997-2121 (text) or @opdv.ny.gov (chat). In 2020, the state and local hotlines received 252,535 calls for assistance.

Safe Horizon (and other nonprofits) also operate 24-hour hotlines (lláme para ayuda). Call 1-800-621-HOPE (4673). The Domestic Violence unit at the Bronx District Attorney’s Office can be reached at (718) 838-6688. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. 

A person arrested and charged with a crime is deemed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.