A Staten Island resident, aged 62, expressed his desire to move after being attacked by a group of teenagers during his evening walk last month, as reported.
The incident occurred near the intersection of Howard Avenue and Clove Road in the Sunnyside neighborhood around 7 p.m. on July 15 when the man was harassed by a group of teenagers.
Surveillance cameras captured the moment when nine juveniles followed the man down the road, as seen in a video obtained by silive.com.
One of the teenagers rushed up behind the man, who then jumped into the middle of a busy street to avoid them, as the rest of the group chased him across the road.
According to NBC New York, the man said, “He raised his fists and said, ‘Pick one,’ and I said, ‘Not interested.’ I thought it was just a kid joking around.”
He added, “I don’t know, maybe that set them off or something, I don’t know, but they were looking for trouble.”
The man mentioned that the group did not attempt to rob him or make any remarks during the incident.
After several punches were thrown at him, the man ran off camera with bruises on his knee and stitches in his finger.
The man recalled that his attackers fled when they noticed others coming to his aid while he was lying on the road.
He was taken to Richmond University Medical Center, West Brighton, incurring approximately $5,000 in medical expenses for his injuries.
A relative of the victim stated, “His mouth is all messed up. He was blindsided and kicked all over his body. He fell flat on his face, not expecting anybody to hit him.”
The man claimed that the group had targeted multiple people before him in the same manner.
Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella mentioned watching video footage of the incident involving a pack of “young individuals” who assaulted the man.
Fossella expressed concern that the man could have been hit by a car while trying to escape the assault.
The victim expressed fear of going outside and a desire to move following the attack.
Two minors, aged 13 and 14, were arrested by the NYPD in connection to the attack and charged with assault.
