Incident In Albany Involving Attorney and Alleged Attacker
On Tuesday, prosecutors reportedly pursued attorney John A. Salcone III, who was allegedly targeted in an attempted murder incident outside a hotel in Albany, New York.
Witnesses claim that the assailant was alerted by Salcone’s sudden outburst in Spanish. Reports suggest that Salcone found himself retreating into the hotel while the aggressor tried to follow. Police have mentioned that security cameras captured the entire altercation.
The attacker has been identified as Saul Morales Garcia, a 40-year-old undocumented immigrant from El Salvador.
Salcone recounted his initial suspicions upon seeing the man. “I see him, then I look back; I’m right in front of the Hilton, just standing there… and then he starts yelling at me in a language I don’t get,” Salcone shared. “I’m just smoking a cigar. I don’t say anything… and then he pulls a knife. He runs towards me while I’m still there with my cigar.”
He continued to describe the incident, stating, “I didn’t want him to escape, so I called out to him. He turns and starts yelling again… and then pulls out the knife. He makes a gesture at his throat, as if he’s threatening to cut me, then approaches again, and I retreat into the hotel, where he finally stops.”
“I’m a resident of Albany, and it feels unsafe to even take a walk and enjoy a cigar near the state capitol,” Salcone added.
Morales Garcia is set to face charges of attempted second-degree murder and will be detained, with an arrest planned in city court on Wednesday. Investigators noted he also has an active arrest warrant in Georgia.
Republican Representative Elise Stefanik expressed her shock over the incident, commenting on the ongoing threat to U.S. attorneys. She stated, “No one is safe in Kathy Hochul’s New York. Even President Trump’s attorney, John A. Salcone III, was ‘facing and chasing’ an armed illegal immigrant in Albany.” Stefanik remarked on Hochul’s executive orders designed to protect undocumented individuals from deportation, emphasizing the need for a governor who prioritizes the safety of New Yorkers and restores law and order.
