Under-15-year-old arrested in connection with violent attack by cyclists on a BMW in NYC – Telemundo New York (47)

NEW YORK – A group of bicyclists surrounded a BMW car at an intersection in Manhattan and allegedly smashed the vehicle’s windshield, side mirrors and hood, police said.

The incident occurred shortly after 4:00 pm on Tuesday. The driver of the truck, a 36-year-old man, stopped at the intersections of Fifth Avenue and East 21st Street and gave way to the group of teenagers.

The group then jumped on the hood and windshield of the vehicle and hit the side mirrors, police said. Video of the incident, recorded from a cell phone, shows a teenager repeatedly hitting the rear window on the driver’s side, while another lifts a bicycle and throws it against the hood of the car. A third minor jumped on the hood.

The New York City Police confirmed Thursday morning that a 15-year-old is in custody in connection with the attack, and faces charges of criminal disturbance and damage.

The driver, who only wanted to be identified as Max, said his terrified mother was in the car with him and frantically called 9-1-1 during the siege. The driver noted that it appeared that about 50 cyclists surrounded them and one collided with the rear of his vehicle. When Max said he stopped to help, the group went on the attack and tried to open his door.

Max noted that the incident reminded him of a 2013 attack on the West Side Highway in which motorcyclists pulled a driver out of his car and struck him in front of his wife and son. Max stated that he left the car parked during the attack because he was concerned about hurting the cyclists if he pulled away.

“I told myself to destroy the car, to let off steam with the car, we are safe in the car,” he said.

The windshield of the 2019 SUV was damaged, as were the hood and side mirrors. No injuries were reported, but Max said he and his mother feared for their safety.

“The glass flew into our faces. It was at that moment that my mother screamed at 911, fearful for her life, and I was afraid for mine,” Max told NBC New York.

Max said that when he saw an opening, he stepped forward and moved just a block before waiting for police. After causing about $ 250 in damage, the group fled the scene, police said.

New York City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea tweeted a video of the incident and asked for the public’s help in locating the suspects.

An investigation is ongoing. A law enforcement source said police are investigating whether those responsible for this incident were also involved in an incident in which a taxi driver was hit and dragged down the West Side Highway.

Max said his biggest question was how the incident could happen in the first place.

“How no one noticed 50 bicycles passing the major intersections along Fifth Avenue and alerted anyone to try to avoid it,” Max said. “Where do we fail in society to allow them to get to that point and what can we do to fix things?”

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