19-05-2025
Showbiz heir, 20, is charged with attempted murder over shocking NYC bar attack
A late Saturday Night Live music coordinator's son has been charged with attempted murder over a shocking bar attack in New York City.
Arlo Willner, 20, allegedly stabbed three men outside of Sally's Bar in the Kips Bay area of Manhattan around 3.30am Saturday, according to a criminal complaint obtained by the New York Post.
Willner, whose father Hal Willner worked on the popular NBC program for decades, approached the trio in an attempt to purchase cocaine, the complaint states.
An argument allegedly ensued after the victims told Willner 'this was not the place for that', with violence erupting when the 20-year-old brandished a pocketknife.
Willner stabbed one man, 46, in the neck, before stabbing another, 45, in the the shoulder, according to the complaint. He then allegedly stabbed the third, who is in his 30s, in the stomach.
Police said the victims, whose identities have not been released, were taken to nearby Bellevue Hospital in stable condition.
Willner was arrested and charged with assault and criminal-possession-of-a-weapon, but prosecutors later upgraded the charges to attempted murder, two counts of first-degree assault and criminal possession of a weapon, the Post reports.
The suspect pleaded guilty to all counts during his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court. NYC Department of Corrections records reviewed by revealed he was released on bail.
Willner is next due in court on May 22.
His attorney David Scott Smith did not immediately respond to request for comment.
The 20-year-old is the offspring of two New York City show business icons, Hal Willner and Sheila Rogers.
Hal died in April 2020 after suffering from symptoms related to Covid. He was 64 years old.
He worked with SNL for decades before his death. He also is credited with helping to put together a series of tribute of albums.
Sheila is a three-time Emmy Award-winning supervisor producer for The Late Late Show with James Corden, which is no longer on the air.
She also previously worked on The Late Show with David Letterman.
