A man accused of repeatedly stabbing a McDonald’s worker in East Harlem sobbed into his lawyer’s shoulder during his first court appearance on Wednesday, where the judge set bail at $150,000.
Ezekiel Dunn-Jennings, 28, sobbed and shook his head during a brief hearing in Manhattan Criminal Court when a Harlem Neighborhood Protection Service attorney patted him on the back.
Dunn-Jennings, who had his hands cuffed behind his back and a large bandage around his little finger, is charged with attempted murder, assault and possession of a weapon during the horrific March 9 attack.
Prosecutors say Dunn-Jennings went on a rampage at a Third Avenue diner near East 117th Street around 00:40 a.m., stabbing Mickey D. Angel Miguel Salazar at least seven times.
According to Assistant District Attorney Ashley Maldonado de la Fuente at the time of the arraignment, Dunn-Jennings got into an argument with the restaurant staff and began “cursing” and “threatening to beat and kill” them.
He then teased Salazar to come out of the kitchen and hit him, and the 23-year-old hero showed up with a broom to protect his colleagues.
Ezekiel Dunn-Jennings has been charged with attempted murder, assault and possession of a weapon during the horrific March 9th attack. Curtis Means for DailyMail/Pool
The two got into a fight and Dunn-Jennings allegedly stabbed Salazar several times, who is still in the hospital.
“He should pay for what he did,” Salazar told The Post by phone from his hospital bed on Tuesday after Dunn-Jennings turned himself in.
One of Dunn-Jennings’ lawyers, Lisa Friedman, noted that her client turned himself in to authorities when she asked Judge Anna Lewis to release him under supervision.
Ezekiel Dunn-Jennings reportedly got into a fight with McDonald’s employees and began “cursing” and “threatening to hit and kill”. Stephen Hirsch
Friedman claimed that Dunn-Jennings has no “substantial criminal record” and that he “always goes to court”.
Dunn-Jennings, who had four previous arrests for assault, criminal mischief and threats, wept when another lawyer, Matthew Daloisio, tried to console him.
The ADA said “much of the crime” was captured on security video and that the bloody pants were found in the suspect’s apartment – less than three blocks from McDonald’s – when she asked for a $150,000 bail.
Ezekiel Dunn-Jennings allegedly stabbed worker Angel Miguel Salazar at least seven times. Family handout.
Angel Salazar is carried out on a stretcher after the stabbing. Ken Lopez/FreedomNewsTV
Dunn-Jennings claimed he acted in self-defense when he was escorted out of Precinct 25 late Tuesday morning, saying, “I got hit in the head. I was attacked first.”
“I regret what happened to this man,” he added when asked if he regrets his alleged actions. “He was a handsome man. I didn’t want to hurt him.”