Huntington Holiday Spectacular stabbing: Boy, 15, charged with assault

A Huntington teen faces an assault charge after allegedly stabbing a 14-year-old boy on Wall Street during the village’s Holiday Spectacular, according to Suffolk County police.

The 15-year-old male stabbed the victim, described by police as his acquaintance, about 9:30 p.m. Saturday, leaving the boy with injuries that were not life-threatening, police said.

The suspect was charged with second-degree assault and arraigned in Suffolk family court, police said.

The Holiday Spectacular is hosted by the Huntington Business Improvement District. Started in 2020, the five-week event shuts down Wall Street to vehicular traffic between Main and Gerard streets and includes a 55-foot artificial Christmas tree decked in lights, according to its website.

“When you visit our event,” the website says, “you’ll find a delightful array of picturesque motifs perfect for holiday photos, including a dazzling 32-foot-long light archway, a whimsical light-up train where children can create lasting memories, and charming light-up candy canes and reindeer.”

Huntington Town spokeswoman Christine Geed described the stabbing as an isolated incident and said there had been no previous problems at the annual celebration.

“This is a fun family event and the town will work to make sure it’s safe for all visitors,” Geed said. “We do not anticipate any further incidents like this occurring.”