Campus Alert Archive
Hofstra

Masked Men Ambush Guests Outside Charter School Graduation at Hofstra's Mack Arena

NYstabbingemergency notificationhigh confidence
Confirmed Threat

On June 19, 2024, two people were slashed by a group of masked men outside the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex at Hofstra University, where Academy Charter High School was hosting its graduation ceremony. Hofstra Public Safety sent a text alert at about 4:20 PM EDT advising students to avoid the Mack arena area; officials later characterized the attack as related to a domestic dispute.

Alerts
1
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
2
Institution
Hofstra University
Private R2 · NY
~11,000 studentsHofstra Public Safety Alert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

1 message in sequence · 1 verified verbatim

INITIAL ALERTSMS
Verified verbatimHofstra Chronicle student newspaper, which quoted the SMS alert verbatim98 chars
Hofstra University Public Safety - Due to ongoing police activity avoid the area around the Arena.
Verbatim text quoted by the Hofstra Chronicle; the Chronicle reported Public Safety sent the text at about 4:20 PM EDT on June 19, 2024 — essentially contemporaneous with the attack
The message referenced the 'Arena' without specifying the Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex by full name
Context

Background

On the afternoon of June 19, 2024, Academy Charter High School held its graduation ceremony at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex on Hofstra University's campus in Hempstead, New York. At approximately 4:20 PM EDT, as the ceremony was ending, several masked individuals attacked guests outside the arena. One adult was slashed in the leg, sustaining a laceration to the thigh with excessive bleeding, and a graduate who attempted to intervene was cut on the ear. Hofstra Public Safety was first on the scene, followed by Emergency Medical Services and the Nassau County Police Department. The university sent a text alert at about 4:20 PM EDT advising students to avoid the area around the Arena. Seven men from Hempstead were subsequently arrested and charged with attempted gang assault in the first degree and related weapons charges, though early reporting put the count at six. Officials described the slashing as related to a domestic dispute. The incident raised concerns among Hofstra students about campus safety, particularly regarding events hosted by outside organizations on university property.
Analysis

Key Findings

Public Safety's text alert went out essentially contemporaneously with the attack (about 4:20 PM EDT), a fast notification for an incident at a campus facility
The attack struck attendees of a non-university event hosted at a campus facility, blurring the boundary of campus safety jurisdiction; officials linked it to a domestic dispute
Seven suspects were ultimately arrested and charged (early reporting said six), making this one of the larger mass-arrest cases in the archive
Outcome
Seven men from Hempstead, NY were arrested and charged with attempted gang assault in the first degree. Both victims were treated and released from Nassau University Medical Center. The attack appeared to target specific individuals attending the graduation.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Student Paper
    Slashing at Hofstra Incites Concerns Amongst Students About Their Safety (Hofstra Chronicle)
    thehofstrachronicle.com
  2. News
    Hofstra University stabbing: Police investigating after 2 people stabbed (ABC7 New York)
    abc7ny.com
  3. Official
    Seven Men Charged in Alleged Assault at High School Graduation (Nassau County DA)
    nassauda.org
  4. News
    Hofstra University stabbing: 6 face gang assault charges (Fox News)
    foxnews.com
  5. News
    2 slashed in domestic dispute near Hofstra University's sports complex: officials (PIX11)
    pix11.com
Tags
stabbingslashingnew-yorklong-islandgraduation-ceremonygang-assaultoutside-eventprivate-university
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion