Arlo Willner, 21, the son of the late Saturday Night Live music coordinator Hal Willner, appeared virtually in Manhattan Criminal Court on September 10, 2026, for a disposition hearing concerning charges of attempted murder and assault.
Willner faces charges of attempted murder, two counts of first-degree assault, and criminal possession of a weapon. The allegations stem from an incident outside Sally's Bar in Manhattan's Kips Bay neighborhood on May 17, 2025. Prosecutors claim Willner approached three men, who have not been identified, attempting to buy cocaine. An argument reportedly escalated when the victims stated it was not an appropriate place for such a transaction.
According to a criminal complaint, Willner then allegedly brandished a pocketknife and stabbed one victim in the neck, another in the shoulder, and a third in the stomach. The victims were transported to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition. Willner was initially arrested and charged with assault and criminal possession of a weapon, with charges later upgraded by prosecutors.
Willner pleaded not guilty to all counts during his arraignment on July 17, 2025. He later posted bail, which was set at $100,000 cash or a $200,000 bond. Court records indicate he has had nine court appearances since his arraignment, though it is unclear if any were in person prior to the recent disposition hearing.
During the September 10 hearing, the judge ordered Willner to appear in person in court on November 2, warning that a warrant would be issued for his arrest if he failed to comply. Willner's attorney, David Scott Smith, was present in the courtroom for the virtual appearance.
Willner is the son of the late Hal Willner, a music coordinator for Saturday Night Live who died in April 2020. His mother, Sheila Rogers, is a three-time Emmy Award-winning supervising producer. 
