Bronx Man Charged in Queens Plank Beating

Beat Girlfriend with Nail Studded Piece of Wood 

She Lost Eye, Had Teeth Knocked Out

James Fitzgerald has been charged with assaulting then-girlfriend Victoria Chuminski with a plank of wood covered in nails. -Photo from social media

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By Dan Gesslein, September 17, 2020

A Bronx man has been charged in the horrifying beating in Queens in which he repeatedly smashed a piece of wood covered in nails into her face. The victim lost sight in her eye and has been disfigured, prosecutors said.  

James Fitzgerald, 53, has been charged with attempted murder by a Queens grand jury. Prosecutors said after the victim tried to break it off with him, Fitzgerald savagely beat and punched her girlfriend to the ground. As she lay defenseless on the sidewalk, Fitzgerald allegedly picked up a piece of wood covered in nails and repeatedly hit her in the face with the board.

District Attorney Melinda Katz said, “This was a brutal crime. The victim was defenseless on the ground when witnesses saw the defendant allegedly repeatedly strike her with his feet and fists. But that wasn’t enough. This man is alleged to have continued the attack using a nail-riddled wooden plank. It is remarkable that she survived. Domestic violence is a horrible scourge in our society and we must do everything possible to stop it.”  

At around 6 pm on May 16, Fitzgerald attacked 35-year-old Victoria Chuminski, in front of a fish market on 150^th Street in Jamaica, Queens. According to published reports, Chuminski had tried to break it off with Fitzgerald following his alleged obsessive and abusive behavior. 

Prosecutors said in front of the fish market, Fitzgerald began beating his girlfriend. A surveillance camera outside the store showed Chuminski tried to hide underneath a parked van. However, Fitzgerald pulled her out and continued the assault. 

As witnesses began yelling at the attacker, Fitzgerald left Chuminski laying on the sidewalk. Prosecutors said he returned with a wooden plank covered in nails and began to smash the board in Chuminski’s face over and over again. 

As police arrived, Fitzgerald tried to flee but was caught. They recovered the plank covered in nails and blood.

Prosecutors said Chuminski underwent three surgeries but lost the use of her right eye. Her orbital bone was crushed and her face is permanently disfigured. Several teeth were knocked out as well. 

Fitzgerald was charged attempted murder in the second degree, two counts of assault in the first and third degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree and harassment in the second degree. 

He was also charged with another assault on the same victim one month earlier.

If convicted, Fitzgerald faces up to 25 years in prison.