DA: West Babylon man indicted in machete attacks at sporting goods store

A West Babylon man accused of attacking three people with a machete earlier this month at a Patchogue sporting goods store was charged with attempted murder and other offenses in an indictment unsealed Monday, according to Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney.

Treyvius Tunstall, 22, allegedly began a violence spree about 1 p.m., Aug. 12 with what Tierney called an “unprovoked” machete attack on the manager of a Dick's Sporting Goods in Patchogue. The manager suffered a fractured skull, fractured wrist and severed nerves and tendons in both hands, Tierney said during a news conference in Riverhead.

“When the defendant decided to walk into a store armed with a machete, his intentions were clear. He chose to cause harm that day,” Tierney said.

Tunstall faces charges of second-degree murder, one count of first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, according to Tierney. 

Melissa Kanas, Tunstall’s Legal Aid attorney, entered not guilty pleas on his behalf during arraignment Monday in Riverhead. Kanas did not return a call for comment. Tunstall is scheduled to return to court Sept. 26. 

He could be sentenced to up 25 years in prison if convicted on the attempted murder charge, Tierney said. Senft set bail at $1 million cash, $2 million bond or $10 million partially secured bond, Tierney said.

According to Tierney and Suffolk police, Tunstall had gone to the Dick’s Sporting Goods store in Bay Shore where he purchased a machete, hunting knife and a backpack. He inquired about purchasing rifles, but was told they were not sold at the Bay Shore location and directed to the Patchogue store. 

Tunstall went to the Patchogue store about two hours later. When an employee told him he required a background check to purchase rifles, Tunstall walked away and then used the machete to attack the store manager, Tierney said.

“He struck the manager numerous times in the head, arm and wrist, causing the manager to fall to the floor,” Tierney said. “While the manager was on the floor, Tunstall continued his attack with the machete.”

The store manager may have lost use of his fingers, according to the district attorney. 

After attacking the manager, Tierney said, Tunstall ran through the store and attacked a second victim. That victim blocked the machete with his arm, leaving a laceration on his wrist. 

Tunstall attacked the third victim outside the store, Tierney said, before attempting to steal a bicycle from a group of children in the parking lot. 

“He was thwarted in that attempt when the third victim, who had been following him in his car, suddenly pulled up and attempted to help the children,” Tierney said. “This caused the defendant to flee.”

Tunstall fled to a nearby wooded area, where he was arrested by Suffolk police, who also recovered a machete, authorities said. The manager underwent surgery for his injuries at Stony Brook University Hospital, while the other victims were treated by the Patchogue Ambulance Company. 

“Obviously,” Tierney said, “this is a very troubling incident.”

With Randee Daddona