Man stabbed in neck in First United Methodist Church basement

About 8:30 p.m. on Friday, September 11, 2026, Suffolk County police said Daniel Escobar, 33, of Bay Shore, stabbed a 65-year-old man in the neck during a meeting in the basement of First United Methodist Church at 25 Broadway, Amityville, New York. The victim was hospitalized with serious injuries; police withheld his identity. Escobar fled on foot and was arrested at 10:22 p.m. on Ackerson Boulevard in Bay Shore. He was charged with first-degree assault, pleaded not guilty, and bail was reported as $150,000 cash / $300,000 bond (Hoodline, citing Newsday, also listed a $500,000 partially secured bond option). First United Methodist Church told News 12 the space was offered for a non-affiliated Narcotics Anonymous meeting and was not a church gathering. Police said the motive was unknown. Sunday service went on as scheduled.

Coordinates are the Nominatim place_of_worship pin for First Methodist Church at 25 Broadway, Amityville (40.6716668, -73.4161111). Patch, Hoodline, and ABC7 give 25 Broadway; News 12's first report once said 24 Broadway. News 12's follow-up also once rendered the suspect's first name as Daniela; ABC7, Patch, and Hoodline identify him as Daniel Escobar.