A man has been indicted on assault charges for allegedly stabbing a Florida man at a Long Island amusement park last month, officials said Wednesday.
Daniel Tomasky, 42, of Shirley, is accused of stabbing the victim, later identified as 47-year-old James Burns, “in front of multiple children” at Adventureland Amusement Park in Farmingdale on July 7, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said in a news release.
The incident unfolded just before 5 p.m. when Tomasky and members of his family “got into an altercation with members of the victim’s family.”
Burns, who wasn’t initially involved in the argument, ended up being stabbed in his abdomen, investigators said.
“Tomasky allegedly pulled a knife from his waistband, charged at the victim, and then stabbed him,” prosecutors said.
Burns was taken to Nassau University Medical Center in critical condition, where he underwent surgery for his injuries.
After the attack, Tomasky placed the knife used during the alleged attack “in a sewer drain near his vehicle,” according to Suffolk County Police.
The knife was recovered from the sewer and Tomasky was arrested at the scene.
Tomasky was arraigned Wednesday in Suffolk County District Cout on multiple charges, including assault, criminal possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
“This was a clear case of self-defense,” Tomasky’s attorney, Michael Brown, told the Daily News in an email.
According to Brown, Tomasky was only reacting to a group of five or six adults, “some with very extensive criminal histories,” who continued to aggressively attack his client and his wife.
“Clearly, he felt his life as well as the lives of his wife and child were in jeopardy,” Brown said.
Judge Anthony J. Senft, Jr. ordered Tomasky be held on $50,000 cash, $100,000 bond, or $500,000 partially secured bond while the case is pending.
He’s due back in court on Sept, 3.
In a statement shared with the Daily News shortly after the incident, Adventureland Park officials confirmed the altercation appeared to have been a dispute between two families.
“For more than 60 years, Adventureland has been providing Long Island families with a convenient, affordable and fun local destination,” the company said. “The safety and security of our visitors is our highest priority.”
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