Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that an undomiciled man pleaded guilty today to manslaughter for a March 2023 machete attack inside of a 24-hour laundromat in Valley Stream.
Roberto Velasquez, 32, pleaded guilty today before Judge Helene Gugerty to Manslaughter in the First Degree (a B felony). He is expected to be sentenced to 21-1/2 years in prison at his next court appearance on March 15, 2024.
“On March 14, 2023, Robert Velasquez and Michael Oliver were both sleeping overnight at the 24-hour laundromat when an argument erupted and turned violent,” said DA Donnelly. “Velasquez pulled a large machete out of his duffle bag and slashed at the victim multiple times, striking him in the leg and causing a massive injury with severe blood loss. Despite intensive life-saving measures, Michael Oliver tragically died at the hospital 10 days after the attack. Now, this defendant will be held accountable for his violent outburst and taking another life.”
DA Donnelly said, according to the charges, at approximately 2:10 a.m. on March 14, 2023, the defendant, Roberto Velasquez, and several other individuals were inside the 24-hour Laundry Palace on Merrick Road in Valley Stream.
Velasquez was seated in a chair next to 58-year-old Michael Oliver. The two got into a verbal altercation, leading the defendant to get up out of his chair, reach for a duffel bag, and hit Oliver with the bag. The contents of the bag spilled to the floor, revealing a large machete.
The defendant grabbed the machete and swung it at Oliver twice in the back, paused, and hit the victim once more on the back of his left leg just above the knee. Oliver then fell to the ground, bleeding profusely. The defendant gathered his duffle bag and the machete and left the laundromat.
Oliver was taken to North Shore University Hospital – Manhasset and required emergency surgery. Though he survived the surgery, Oliver suffered damage to major organs because of the blood loss and an infection and was placed on life support. He died 10 days after the incident on March 24, 2023.
Velasquez was arrested by detectives with the Nassau County Police Department’s 5th Squad on March 14, 2023, in Lynbrook.
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsel Tracy Keeton of the Homicide Bureau. The defendant is represented by Alan Schwartz, Esq.
