Riverhead Man Charged With Attempted Murder

A Riverhead man stands charged with attempted murder after Nassau County police allege that he — along with two other men — dragged a 23-year-old behind a Lawrence house in February and stabbed him repeatedly.

Manuel Pelaez, 21, was taken into custody at his Wilson Avenue house on Tuesday morning, shortly after 5:30, and charged with second-degree attempted murder, first-degree gang assault, first-degree and second-degree assault — all felonies — and possession of a dangerous weapon in the fourth degree, a misdemeanor.

He will be arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead on Tuesday. The other two men, Erick Pelaez, 27, of North Lawrence, Sergio Acosta, 18, of Inwood, have already been arrested and arraigned, and remain in custody without bail.

According to detectives, a 23-year-old man was at Carisma Restaurant at 199 Mott Ave. in Lawrence on Feb. 23 at 4 a.m. when he saw the three defendants also in the restaurant.

As the the man walked home on Clinton Avenue in Inwood, the trio allegedly jumped him, dragged him behind a house and stabbed him multiple times, police said.

The three men then fled the scene on foot, police said.

The victim was transported to an area hospital where he was admitted with stab wounds to the throat, arms and legs.