Sept. 26, 2022 By Michael Dorgan
Police have released a shocking video of two suspects violently beating an 81-year-old man in Jackson Heights last week – before making off with the victim’s cell phone and $15 cash.
The unsettling footage shows the two hooded muggers shoving the senior to the sidewalk outside BQE Billiards & Bar, located at 70-02 34 Ave., at around 5:55 a.m. Friday.
As the octogenarian lays on the sidewalk, one of the suspects appears to frisk his body while the other assailant – who is now standing between two parked cars – pulls on the strap of the man’s messenger bag, dragging the victim forward.
However, the 81-year-old keeps clutching onto the bag in what essentially becomes a tug-of-war between him and the suspect on the roadway, the grainy footage shows.
The other assailant then punches the senior twice in the torso and viciously knees him three times in the back — but the 81-year-old refuses to let go of the bag. The suspect on the sidewalk then unloads at least five more punches before the senior finally relinquishes his grip.
The two suspects then take off with the man’s bag and flee the scene in a red-colored SUV, according to police. The NYPD said the victim’s bag contained a cellphone and $15 cash.
The senior was transported to Elmhurst Hospital with broken ribs, lacerations and bruising, police said.
The 81-year-old had been on an early morning walk when the two assailants allegedly attacked him, a relative of the victim told the New York Daily News.
“It was just physical, they didn’t say anything to him,” the relative told the publication. “There’s so many robbers, homeless, crazy people (out there).”
The senior had moved to the U.S. from India around six years ago to be with his loved ones and was recently diagnosed with diabetes. He takes morning walks to stay healthy, the relative told the publication.
“When he takes walks, it helps his blood sugar go down,” the relative said.
“I cannot digest this because he is more than 80 years old. The whole day and night he was shivering.”
There have been no arrests and police were unable to provide a description of the suspects.
Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/
2 Comments
So much violence in our city, our country, our world.
These people have no conscience.
Cowards.
Not much in Florida. Champa city baby. I love our governor and sheriffs. What a state! Coming from a true New Yorker.