The Astoria resident who allegedly killed one man, stabbed a woman and set another man on fire in a violent crime spree earlier this month was arraigned from his hospital bed on March 24.
James Dillon, 23, was charged with second degree murder, two counts of second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault and three counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon last Thursday, according to the Queen’s District Attorney’s office.
He made headlines on March 6 after he slashed a 39-year-old woman’s face at about 11:20 a.m on 36th Street near 28th Avenue. Dillon then walked into a liquor store at 38-18 Astoria Blvd. where he stabbed to death 55-year-old store owner George Patouhas. He also burned a 61-year-old homeless man by throwing acetone at him.
Police arrested Dillon later in the afternoon when they cornered him near his house. He threw a Corona bottle filled with acetone at officers and refused to drop his knife, police said.
Captain Peter Fortune, the commanding officer of the 114th Precinct said Dillon is also linked to another stabbing that day. He allegedly stabbed a 43-year-old man in Jackson Heights at about 1:30 p.m.
The Astoria resident also slashed a 26-year-old man in Astoria on March 4 as he was smoking a cigarette on a work break in Long Island City.
Dillon continues to be hospitalized and his next court date is March 26. He is represented by Arthur Aidala of Aidala Bertuna & Kamins.
QNS reached out to Arthur Aidala and is awaiting response.
