Brentwood man charged with stabbing ex-wife outside McDonald’s

A Brentwood man is accused of stabbing his ex-wife more than 20 times at a McDonald’s drive-thru in Bay Shore, the day after a court obtained a protective order against him, authorities said.

Willie Curry, 36, of Brentwood, pleaded not guilty to attempted second-degree murder and other charges, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said Friday.

Around 8:15 a.m. on Nov. 2, the victim, who authorities have not identified, was sitting behind the wheel of his car in front of the drive-through window of a McDonald’s in Bay Shore, authorities said. Curry, who was riding an electric bike, allegedly approached his ex-wife’s open driver’s side window and began stabbing her. The woman was “screaming for help” as onlookers in the restaurant and other vehicles called 911 and yelled at Curry to stop, the district attorney said in a statement.

After Tierney stabbed his ex-wife more than 20 times, the woman “traveled a short distance,” a witness said, yelling at Curry to leave the woman alone. Another bystander checked on the victim while speaking to the 911 operator.

“This brutal and calculated attack represents the devastating reality of domestic violence in our society,” Tierney said in a statement. he said. “The defendant allegedly ambushed his ex-wife in broad daylight, just a few hours after she sought legal protection from him, with complete disregard for both human life and the law.”

Curry’s ex-wife was transported to South Shore University Hospital, where she “received staples and stitches to close the wounds on her neck, face, chest, leg and hands,” the district attorney said. Authorities said Curry was taken into custody near the scene.

The day before the alleged attack, Curry’s ex-wife obtained a protective order from Family Court, which instructed her to stay away from him, authorities said.

On Thursday, Curry pleaded not guilty before Superior Court Judge Timothy P. Mazzei to attempted second-degree murder, attempted first-degree assault, second-degree assault, aggravated criminal contempt, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, first-degree felon. Contempt and first-degree harassment, according to court documents.

Curry was ordered held on $500,000 cash, $1,000,000 bond or $10,000,000 partially secured bond pending the continuation of the case, authorities said. He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of attempted second-degree murder.

He is represented by the Suffolk County Legal Aid Society, which does not comment on cases. He will appear in court again on December 20.