Tesfa Tucker Arrested After Knife Attack at North Lindenhurst Apartment

Suffolk County police arrested 42-year-old Tesfa Tucker of the Putnam Gardens apartment complex after an alleged knife attack in the building entryway at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 17. Police say the incident occurred at Putnam Gardens, 930 North Putnam Ave., in Lindenhurst.

Police charged Tucker with two counts of Assault in the First Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree. Tucker was held overnight at the Suffolk County Police Third Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned on Feb. 19 at First District Court in Central Islip.

The victim is a 27-year-old man from Central Islip whose name has not been released. According to investigators, Tesfa Tucker, 42, who lives at the complex, allegedly used a knife to attack a 27-year-old man from Central Islip who was known to him. Accounts conflict on the victim’s immediate condition: one report says, “The victim was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries,” while an initial brief police report said, “The victim received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries at the scene.”

Police initially responded to reports of an “act of violence” at the Putnam Gardens entryway and arrested Tucker on scene, according to investigators. Officers processed Tucker through the Third Precinct; charging documents and the arraignment date listed on the county docket show the hearing scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 19, at the First District Court in Central Islip.

Putnam Gardens residents at 930 North Putnam Ave. were identified in police statements as the location of the assault; authorities noted the two men were acquainted. Investigators have not released the victim’s name or detailed information about the knife used, and no public statement from building management has been provided to police at this time.

Authorities reiterate the standard legal safeguard to the community: “A criminal charge is an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.” Suffolk County police investigators are the primary source of the charges and timeline; court filings on Feb. 19 should confirm the counts and any additional details about custody, bond or arraignment procedure.