Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Levittown man was convicted at trial yesterday afternoon for the murder of his wife and attempted murder of his brother-in-law in August 2020 at their Cord Lane home.
Thomas DiNapoli, 70, was convicted by a jury yesterday of Murder in the Second Degree (an A-I felony), Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (a B violent felony), and Assault in the First Degree (a B violent felony). The defendant is due back for sentencing before Judge Tammy Robbins on July 27, 2023, when he faces a potential maximum of 50 years to life in prison.
The trial started on June 16, 2023, and summations were yesterday. The jury deliberated for approximately one hour before delivering their verdict.
“Thomas DiNapoli brutally murdered his wife by firing a rifle twice at her face, striking the woman in the neck and eye,” DA Donnelly said. “Cheryl DiNapoli’s brother then ran to the bedroom, where he observed the defendant with a gun. He wrestled the gun away from the defendant and called for help. DiNapoli then retrieved a second weapon, a shotgun, and fired the weapon, striking the man in the arm. Cheryl’s brother attempted to grab the second gun and the struggle continued on the lawn of the Levittown home. Thanks to the quick response of the Nassau County Police Department and Cheryl’s brother, the defendant was apprehended. I thank our prosecutors and the police officers who helped convict this remorseless defendant.”
DA Donnelly said that on the evening of August 13, 2020, the defendant and his wife, Cheryl DiNapoli, were arguing in the bedroom of their home in Levittown. The defendant shot the 61-year-old victim in the eye and neck with a 9mm rifle.
The woman’s younger brother, who was also living at the home, entered the couple’s bedroom and struggled with the defendant for possession of the gun, ultimately taking it away from DiNapoli.
The defendant then went downstairs to a safe in the garage where he retrieved a second weapon, a shotgun. DiNapoli then shot his brother-in-law, who was behind a door, in the right arm.
The two men physically fought in the house and the struggled continued to the front lawn of the home. There, the brother-in-law was able to take the shotgun away from DiNapoli.
At that point, at approximately 11:49 p.m. that evening, responding officers from the Nassau County Police Department arrested the defendant.
Cheryl DiNapoli was pronounced deceased at the scene. The injured man was taken to the hospital and is recovering from his wounds.
Senior Litigation Counsel Stefanie Palma of the Homicide Bureau is prosecuting this case. The defendant is represented by Christopher Devane, Esq.
