NYPD Seeks Suspect in Series of Random Attacks in Greenwich Village – NBC New York (47)

NEW YORK — People in a Manhattan neighborhood are being attacked without provocation and seemingly randomly, and police are seeking help in finding the suspect.

In the latest incident, the victim said he was heading to the grocery store in Greenwich Village around 4:30 p.m. Saturday when he was struck out of nowhere on East 9th Street near University Place.

“I passed him a few steps before he turned around and was immediately hit,” the victim, a father who did not want to be named, told NBC New York.

That sudden and unexpected blow to the man’s left eye has left it swollen and bruised. The victim said he now sees double, has a fractured eye socket and required six stitches in his lip.

“It was very fast. I was thinking, get away from him, so I backed away as fast as I could and started yelling, ‘Police!'” the man said, adding that other people helped him up afterward.

He can’t figure out a motive and said his attacker didn’t try to rob him.

“Normally, you think it would be because of a robbery or something, not just because of anger and injury. Unfortunately, that was the case this time,” the father said. “She’s not thinking about his own safety, either.”

He was also surprised because, at over six feet tall, the victim said he is much bigger than the guy who knocked him down.

“I hope they get him before he gets someone else because it’s no small feat. Eye injury, possible surgery. I hope they stop him,” the victim said.

Detectives are handing out flyers in hopes of finding the suspect, who was last seen wearing a hoodie and dark pants. Authorities suspect he has been beaten before and believe he is responsible for two other incidents of stranger beatings.

Anyone with information about the suspect or the incident should contact the police.