Machete Attack in Fordham Leads to Indictment

By BOB KAPPSTATTER

A Bronx grand jury has indicted a New Jersey man for a horrendous machete attack on a Fordham woman that left her with life-altering injuries.

Hector de la Cruz, 27, of Paterson, NJ, was indicted on attempted murder and assault charges in the Feb. 21 attack on his ex-girlfriend inside the lobby of her Fordham Manor apartment building. The Daily News reported the victim was trying to get away from de la Cruz, moving to the Bronx from New Jersey.

“The defendant allegedly struck this 20-year-old woman, who is the mother of his two-year-old daughter, in her face, hand and neck with a machete. She survived the brutal attack but will live with grievous wounds and enduring trauma,” said Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark. “She has shown great courage and we will bring justice for her.”

According to the investigation, at around 9 p.m. that night, inside the lobby of 2685 Grand Concourse, the defendant allegedly approached Lisbeth Acosta-Ramirez with a machete nearly killing her by striking her on the right side of her face, her right hand and the back of her neck, causing deep bleeding lacerations. Acosta-Ramirez was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital and underwent reconstructive and life-saving surgery.

The district attorney said de la Cruz was arraigned March 3 on an indictment charging attempted Murder in the second degree, two counts of first-degree Assault, two counts of second-degree Assault, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon before Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas. Bail was set at $500,000 cash/$500,000 bond/$500,000 bond partially secured at ten percent.

The defendant is due back in court on May 27.

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