Almost everyone in the country has been impacted by the current housing crisis in one way or another. From rising rent prices to a lack of affordable housing, mortgage and rent disputes are becoming more and more commonplace.
Unfortunately, these types of disputes can turn violent, as was the case for tenants who were in their Queens home on Tuesday, November 14th. According to the NYPD, former landlord David Daniel turned himself into the police station at around 7 A.M. after having “issues” with his tenants. He told authorities that he did something bad, and an investigation ensued.
Daniel provided the address to his tenant’s home, and authorities rushed out to the scene. There, they discovered three victims, all deceased and suffering from multiple stab wounds.
Soon, police learned that the landlord had been disputing with the tenants for years. They reportedly had been living inside the Queens home since the COVID pandemic started in 2020 and they have not paid any rent since that time. According to unverified reports, the tenants had recently agreed to start paying rent again but reneged on their agreement. To make matters even more complicated, some believe that one of the tenants in the home was the landlord’s girlfriend.
Despite these claims, the suspect’s brother spoke to media outlets and said that he had never heard about any ongoing rent disputes. He also reinforced that his brother has never been violent in the past. Another neighbor claimed that the tenants had only moved into the unit about one year ago, so there’s no chance that an ongoing dispute was ongoing since 2020.
While the investigation continues, Daniel has been charged with first- and second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon.
When Disputes Turn Violent
When disputes turn violent, criminal charges ensue. There are situations, though, when violence is a legally acceptable solution. For that to be the case, though, the other party must have used or threatened to use equal violence against you. For example, if someone threatens to fight you, then you have a legal right to fight back in self-defense. If someone threatens you with a gun, then it’s legally acceptable for you to defend yourself with a gun.
Self defense isn’t the only solid defense strategy that might be available to you in your situation if you’ve been charged with a violent crime in New York. Since every criminal case is unique, the possible defense strategies that will work best for you will hinge on the circumstances of your charges, arrest, and more. For that reason, the best strategy is to discuss your situation with a qualified criminal defense attorney in New York before you enter into a plea.
You have one shot at justice, so you deserve to have a solid legal representative by your side.
If you’re in New York or a nearby area and you have legal questions, then our team can help. Schedule a consultation with our office now to get in touch and discuss your criminal charges with our lawyers.
