A man with a history of 23 prior arrests stabbed a Queens fruit vendor multiple times after being confronted for sleeping next to his stand on Sunday evening, according to police and sources.
Niser Cekic, 47, was found sleeping on the ground near a fruit stand at 59th Street and Roosevelt Avenue in Sunnyside around 5:45 p.m. The worker, a 35-year-old man, woke him up, which led to Cekic flying into a rage and stabbing the worker multiple times all over his body, as reported by authorities and sources.
The injured man was taken to Elmhurst Hospital Center and listed in stable condition.
The knife used in the attack was recovered at the scene, according to the police.
Cekic was apprehended by officers while waiting for an MTA bus nearby, sources revealed.
The Bronx man, with a history of about 23 prior arrests, was charged with attempted murder, assault causing serious injury with a weapon, reckless endangerment, menacing with a weapon, criminal possession of a weapon, and harassment, authorities confirmed.
Cekic has a history of prior arrests for petit larceny, trespassing, criminal possession of a controlled substance, and bail jumping.
His arraignment on the new charges was pending as of Monday.
