Overview

• U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III was confronted outside an Albany hotel while smoking a cigar and ran inside after the attacker lunged with a knife.
• Authorities have identified the suspect as 40-year-old Saul Morales-Garcia, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador with criminal convictions in three states and a prior deportation.
• Morales-Garcia faces attempted second-degree murder, weapons possession and menacing charges and is being held without bail pending arraignment.
• Albany County District Attorney Lee Kindlon said evidence from hotel security cameras confirms the encounter was random rather than a targeted assassination attempt.
• Rep. Elise Stefanik criticized Gov. Kathy Hochul’s immigration policies over the assault while Mayor Kathy Sheehan lauded law enforcement for the swift arrest.