Fourth man charged in Christmas Day assault

Nearly three months after the Christmas Day assault of a man in Hempstead, Nassau Police have made a fourth arrest in the case.

Francisco Guardado, 34, of Cruikshank Avenue in Hempstead was arrested shortly before 10 p.m. Friday and charged with assault, gang assault and criminal possession of a weapon. He will be arraigned Saturday in First District Court in Hempstead.

Guardado and three other men are charged with attacking a 29-year-old victim as he was walking on High Street on Dec. 25.

The men surrounded the victim and punched him repeatedly in the face and head, police said. One of the attackers, police said, used a machete to cut the victim's left forearm.

Jeronimo Wedner, 26, and Omar Lemus, 21, both of Elm Avenue in Hempstead, and Alfredo Reyez, 24, of South Franklin Avenue in Hempstead, have also been charged with assault, gang assault, criminal possession of a controlled substance and possession of a dangerous weapon in the assault.