Two charged with attempted murder of Freeport man in ax attack, state cops say

Two Long Island men are charged with attempted murder after one of them struck a 27-year-old Freeport man in the head with an ax Saturday night, critically wounding him, New York State Police said Tuesday.

State police said in a statement they are investigating "an assault with an ax" — along with the Freeport Police Department — that occurred about 10:40 p.m. Saturday in a wooded area off the Meadowbrook State Parkway near Sunrise Highway.

Police identified the suspects as Oscar Romero-Hernandez, 37, and Jose Otero, 38, both of Freeport. Cops said they "were in a physical altercation where the victim was struck in the head with an ax," police said in a statement.

"The victim was transported to Nassau University Medical Center with serious injuries and is in critical condition," police said.

On Tuesday, police clarified the statement, saying the victim in the case was an unidentified third person and not one of the two men charged.

Romero-Hernandez is charged with second-degree attempted murder and first-degree assault, police said. Otero is charged with second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, police said.

Police said Tuesday the two have pending arraignments in Nassau County's First District Court.

State police Trooper Daniel Ahlgrim, an agency spokesman, said Tuesday afternoon the suspects and victims were all known to each other. The motive behind the attack remained under investigation, Ahlgrim said.