The 75-year-old woman was beaten, choked and hospitalized in stable condition, say police.

WILLISTON PARK, N.Y. — A 37-year-old Long Island man was charged with attempted murder after police said he beat and choked his 75-year-old mother during an argument inside a Broad Street home on April 1.

John Strano, of Williston Park, faces second-degree attempted murder, two counts of second-degree assault, criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Nassau County police said the case began as a domestic dispute and became a felony investigation after the woman described being thrown down, struck and choked. The woman was taken to a hospital and listed in stable condition.

Police said officers first responded at 5:42 p.m. to Amherst Street for what was reported as an aided case. When they arrived, they found the injured woman, who told detectives she had been attacked inside a Broad Street residence after an argument with her son turned violent. Detectives said Strano pushed her to the ground, slammed her head against the floor and punched her in the face several times. Police said he also struck her head with a blunt metal object and choked her before leaving the home. Prosecutors later said in court that the object was a metal clamp and that Strano hit the back of his mother’s head more than three dozen times. Authorities said he also made statements during the attack, including, “Why aren’t you dying?” and “Why are you still breathing?”

The woman’s name was not released by police. Prosecutors said she suffered swelling across her face and head, severe lacerations and a loss of consciousness during the attack. Police said she was able to describe what happened after officers reached her, giving detectives the first account that tied the violence to the Broad Street home. Investigators said Strano fled after the attack, prompting officers to search the surrounding area. He was found about a mile away at Center Street Elementary School and was arrested on the school’s baseball field after students had left for the day. Police said the arrest happened without incident and that Strano was taken to an area hospital for an evaluation.

The response drew attention in the neighborhood because part of Broad Street was shut down for several hours while officers worked at the scene. Witnesses told local reporters that many officers were visible around the home and near the school field where the arrest took place. The Herricks School District said it was aware of the situation but had no comment. The school was not described by police as part of the original dispute, and officials did not report injuries at the school. The case centered on the home, the woman’s injuries and the search that followed after the suspect left the residence.

Williston Park is a Nassau County village on Long Island, about 22 miles from Manhattan. The case quickly drew regional attention because of the age of the victim, the charge of attempted murder and the statements prosecutors said were made during the attack. Police described the incident as a violent escalation after a mother and son argued inside the home. The criminal complaint and court statements reported so far do not explain what the argument was about. That question remained unanswered after the first court appearance, and police did not release additional information about any earlier calls to the home.

Strano pleaded not guilty at his court appearance and was remanded. The charges place the case in the felony track, with prosecutors expected to rely on medical records, police observations, witness accounts and statements attributed to Strano. The attempted murder charge signals that prosecutors believe the evidence supports an allegation that he intended to kill his mother, while the assault counts focus on the injuries and the alleged use of force. The criminal obstruction count relates to the alleged choking, and the weapon count relates to the metal object prosecutors identified in court.

Police said the mother remained in stable condition after being taken to the hospital. Stable condition does not erase the severity of the injuries described by prosecutors, which included facial and head swelling, lacerations and a reported loss of consciousness. The alleged weapon, the number of blows described in court and the choking accusation are likely to become central points as the case moves forward. The defense entered a not guilty plea, meaning the accusations must be tested through the court process before any finding of guilt.

The next steps were expected to include continued review by Nassau County prosecutors and further court proceedings tied to the felony charges. Police have not publicly identified the mother, and no motive has been released. As of April 27, Strano remained accused, not convicted, in the Williston Park attack.

Author note: Last updated April 27, 2026.