Police said John Strano was arrested after officers searched beyond the Broad Street residence.
WILLISTON PARK, N.Y. — A violent attack reported inside a Williston Park home ended with police arresting a 37-year-old man on a nearby school baseball field, authorities said.
The Nassau County case unfolded across a compact village setting on April 1, beginning with an injured 75-year-old woman, moving to a Broad Street investigation and ending about a mile away at Center Street Elementary School. Police identified the suspect as John Strano, the woman’s son. He was charged with attempted murder and related felonies after authorities said his mother was beaten, struck with a blunt metal object and choked.
Officers were first sent to Amherst Street at 5:42 p.m. for an aided case, police said. When they arrived, they found the woman and learned she had been attacked at a Broad Street residence. Detectives said the woman reported that she and Strano had been arguing when the confrontation turned physical. Police said Strano pushed her to the ground and repeatedly slammed her head against the floor. He then punched her in the face, struck her head with a blunt metal object and choked her before leaving the residence, according to investigators. The attack was no longer being handled only as a medical emergency once officers documented the woman’s account and injuries.
The scene on Broad Street drew a large response. Witnesses said part of the street was shut down for several hours while officers worked in the area. Local reports placed investigators at 23 Broad St. shortly before 6 p.m. The victim was taken to a hospital, where police said she was listed in stable condition. Prosecutors later said in court that she had swelling across her face and head, severe lacerations and had lost consciousness. They also said the blunt object was a metal clamp used to strike her in the back of the head more than three dozen times. Police did not identify the woman by name.
The search then shifted away from the home. Police said Strano fled after the attack, and officers later found him at Center Street Elementary School. Witness photographs described in local reports showed police taking him into custody on the baseball field after students had already left for the day. Police said the arrest happened without incident. Strano was taken to an area hospital for an evaluation. The Herricks School District said it was aware of the situation and did not comment. Authorities did not report that any children or school employees were harmed during the arrest.
Prosecutors said Strano made statements during the alleged attack, including “Why aren’t you dying?” and “Why are you still breathing?” Those statements became part of the public account of the case because they speak to what prosecutors may argue about intent. The most serious charge, second-degree attempted murder, requires more than proof of an assault. Prosecutors must prove that the accused intended to cause death and took action toward that result. The alleged choking, the reported number of blows and the statements attributed to Strano may all be used to support that claim as the case develops.
The other charges address separate legal issues from the same incident. Two second-degree assault counts concern the physical injury allegations. Criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation concerns the accusation that Strano choked the woman. Fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon concerns the alleged use of the metal clamp. Each count carries its own elements and possible defenses. Strano pleaded not guilty, which means the prosecution must prove the case through evidence in court. At this stage, the police and prosecutor accounts remain allegations.
The setting added another layer to the public attention. Williston Park is a Nassau County village on Long Island, close enough to New York City to be part of the broader metropolitan area but built around local residential blocks and neighborhood schools. The reported movement from a home to a school field made the police response visible across more than one part of the village. Still, officials have framed the case as a domestic attack inside a residence, not as an incident that began at the school or involved the school community beyond the arrest location.
Investigators have not released a motive. They have not said what the mother and son were arguing about before the attack, whether a 911 call came from the victim or someone else, or whether any prior reports involved the home. The next stages of the case may bring more detail through court filings, hearings and discovery. Medical documentation, photographs, officer reports, witness statements and any statements made after arrest could shape how prosecutors and defense lawyers argue the facts. The mother’s recovery also remains a key unanswered part of the case beyond the initial stable condition report.
The case stands as a pending Nassau County felony prosecution. Strano remained presumed innocent unless proved guilty, while his mother’s account, her injuries and the alleged flight to a nearby ballfield formed the public outline of the investigation.
Author note: Last updated April 27, 2026.