Trending
An internet influencer who was stabbed in December at the Tim Hortons in Brooklyn Square has been charged along with the man who stabbed him and a third man.
Nicholas S. Attalla, also known as Niky Sal, of Erie was charged Tuesday with third-degree assault, second-degree criminal nuisance and endangering the welfare of a child. Eric Spencer was charged with second-degree criminal nuisance and endangering the welfare of a child. James Morris, who was charged in the aftermath of the December 13 stabbing with first-degree assault, third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and tampering with physical evidence, faces new charges of second-degree criminal nuisance and endangering the welfare of a child.
Jamestown Police announced the charges today. Attalla turned himself in to Jamestown police officers on Sept. 4. Spencer and Morris were both charged in January 2026.
Attalla, in the vein of the 'To Catch A Predator' television show that used to be broadcast, communicates with suspected child predators anonymously and then sets up meetings with the alleged predators. Police sometimes follow up on the information, though not in every case.
The investigation has continued since December with investigators interviewing witnesses, obtaining video footage and executing a search warrant on a cellular phone. As a result, investigators were able to determine that Attalla began communicating with an unknown person who identified themselves as a 16 year old male on a dating site. Attalla, who was portraying himself as a 14 year old girl, spoke on the phone with the alleged 16 year old male. The conversation between the two continued through texting and they agreed to meet at Tim Hortons. Attalla entered Tim Hortons and confronted James Morris and Eric Spencer. Attalla, according to police, accused Morris of attempting to meet a 14-year-old girl, and threatened him based solely on the phone conversation and his voice. Through cellular phone search warrants, investigators confirmed that there was no phone contact between Attalla, Morris or Spencer leading up to the confrontation. As a result of the accusations Attalla was publicly making towards Morris and Spencer, a fight ensued. During the fight, there were numerous patrons who were placed in a dangerous situation including a 1-year-old child. The fight spilled directly into the child and their family.
Criminal nuisance is defined as knowingly or recklessly creating or maintaining a condition that endangers the safety or health of a considerable number of people through unlawful or unreasonable conduct.
In New York, second-degree criminal nuisance is classified as a class B misdemeanor with penalties including up to 90 days in jail, up to one year of conditional discharge or probation and up to $500 in fines. A Go Fund Me account for Attalla generated $12,430 in the days after the incident.