Crazed Brooklynite Attacks French Tourist in Midtown
A disturbing incident unfolded in Midtown on Saturday morning when a French tourist was randomly punched in the head by a Brooklyn man, sending him crashing into a stone step, as per police sources and surveillance footage of the assault. This attack occurred just days after the assailant, Norman Nelson, allegedly assaulted an elderly man in the East Village.
The victim, Philippe Mary, 60, from Talence, France, was walking past a Burger King on West 42nd Street when Nelson, 49, approached him from behind and struck him with a left hook to the head, causing Mary to collide head-first with a step outside the restaurant’s entrance, as captured in the video.
Two bystanders intervened in the scuffle that ensued, prompting Nelson to eventually walk away from the scene. Mary, though visibly shaken, managed to get back on his feet with the help of his companions.
Nelson, a repeat offender with multiple prior arrests, was apprehended by the authorities and charged with third-degree assault, aggravated harassment, and other offenses. Meanwhile, Mary was taken to Bellevue Hospital for treatment of a laceration on his forehead and a bloody nose sustained in the attack.
Notably, Nelson is also facing charges for a separate incident on August 6, where he allegedly struck an 81-year-old man, Peter Bardazzi, in the head with a crate in the East Village.
Bardazzi, recounting the harrowing experience, described how he was attacked while running errands and how kind strangers came to his aid after the assault. Despite the ordeal, Bardazzi escaped with no lasting injuries from the incident.
The escalating violence in the neighborhood has raised concerns among residents and officials, prompting calls for intervention to address the issues posed by the growing number of unstable individuals in the area.
As the community grapples with these challenges, there is a growing consensus that urgent action is needed to restore safety and security to the neighborhood.
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