Illegal Migrant Charged with Attempted Murder of U.S. Attorney in Albany Knife Attack

In a chilling encounter on the streets of Albany, New York, a previously deported migrant, Saul Morales-Garcia, 40, from El Salvador, was arrested on attempted murder charges after allegedly lunging at U.S. Attorney John Sarcone with a knife. The incident unfolded Tuesday night outside a hotel on Lodge Street, leaving Sarcone, appointed by Attorney General Pam Bondi in March, shaken but unharmed.

Prosecutors say Morales-Garcia, with a criminal history spanning multiple states, charged at Sarcone, screaming in a foreign language and making a throat-slitting gesture. Sarcone fled to the hotel lobby, called Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple, and bravely attempted to detain the suspect to prevent harm to others. Deputies arrived swiftly, arresting Morales-Garcia and recovering the knife.

Sarcone, a resident of Albany, expressed dismay at the city’s safety, stating, "I don’t feel safe to go out for a walk and have a cigar near the state Capitol." The sheriff praised Sarcone’s courage, noting his actions likely saved lives. Morales-Garcia, who illegally reentered the U.S. in 2021, faces charges of attempted murder, weapons possession, and menacing. He pleaded not guilty and is held without bail.

The case, described as a random attack, has drawn attention to immigration enforcement. Sarcone recused his office from prosecuting Morales-Garcia’s illegal reentry charge, which is now handled by the Southern District of New York, with FBI and Homeland Security Investigations involved. Morales-Garcia’s rap sheet includes convictions in Georgia, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, plus an active warrant in Forsyth County.

This incident underscores the unpredictable dangers faced by public officials and raises questions about urban safety and immigration policy.