MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that a Levittown man was arraigned on grand jury indictment charges today for the murder of his wife and attempted murder of his brother-in-law in August at their Cord Lane home.
Thomas DiNapoli, 68, of Levittown, was arraigned before Judge Tammy Robbins on charges of murder in the second degree (an A-I felony), attempted murder in the second degree (a B violent felony) and assault in the first degree (a B violent felony). The defendant was remanded, is due back in court on November 24 and faces a potential maximum of 50 years to life in prison if convicted.
“The allegations in this case represent the worst form of intimate partner violence,” DA Singas said. “Cheryl DiNapoli’s husband is alleged to have argued with her in their bedroom which ended with him shooting her with a rifle at close range in the neck and the eye, killing her. Mrs. DiNapoli’s brother tried to come to her aid and it is alleged that he was also shot by the defendant but thankfully he will survive. Quick action was taken by the Nassau County Police Department who arrested the defendant at the scene. He will be aggressively prosecuted.”
DA Singas said that on the evening of August 13, 2020, the defendant and his wife, Cheryl DiNapoli, were arguing in the bedroom of their home in Levittown. The defendant allegedly shot the 61-year-old victim in the eye and neck with a 9mm rifle.
The woman’s younger brother, who was also living at the home, entered the couple’s bedroom and struggled with the defendant for possession of the gun, ultimately taking it away from DiNapoli. The defendant then went downstairs to a safe in the garage where he retrieved a second weapon, a shotgun. DiNapoli then allegedly shot his brother in law, who was behind a door, in the right arm.
The two men physically fought in the house and the struggled continued to the front lawn of the home. There, the brother-in-law was able to take the shotgun away from DiNapoli.
At that point, at approximately 11:45 p.m. that evening, responding officers from the Nassau County Police Department arrested the defendant.
Cheryl DiNapoli was pronounced deceased at the scene. The injured man was taken to the hospital and is recovering from his wounds.
Senior Litigation Counsel Stefanie Palma of DA Singas’ Major Offense Bureau is prosecuting this case. The defendant is represented by Joseph Amsel, Esq.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.
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