August 11, 2000

FORMER VETERANS HOME EMPLOYEE ARRESTED AFTER SUICIDE ATTEMPT AND CHARGED WITH MURDER OF SUPERVISOR

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown announced today the arrest of 40 year old Steven Robinson on charges of murdering his supervisor at a veterans nursing home in St. Albans on August 8th.

District Attorney Brown said, "The defendant is accused of intentionally murdering Elizabeth Parker, 58, by shooting her in her office at the New York State Veterans Home last Tuesday. Mrs. Parker and the defendant had had an argument earlier in the day after which he allegedly left the home. He allegedly returned at about 1:35 p.m. and shot and killed the victim".

District Attorney Brown said that the defendant was charged with two counts of murder in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon. He faces a maximum term of 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the murder.

The defendant was arrested this morning at Jamaica Hospital where he was taken after he shot himself in the head in Baisley Park. He is expected to survive his wounds.

Assistant District Attorney Daniel Schorr of the District Attorney's Homicide Investigations Bureau, which is under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Peter T. Reese and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney Gregory L. Lasak, is in charge of the case.

It should be noted that an arrest is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.