Juan Mercedes, 25, was arraigned Tuesday in Manhattan Criminal Court on an attempted murder charge for allegedly stabbing a 19-year-old Australian tourist twice in the back at a McDonald's restaurant. The victim, who was hospitalized with a punctured lung, was with friends when the unprovoked attack occurred around 2 a.m. Monday.
Prosecutors stated that video footage and eyewitness accounts show Mercedes calmly approaching the tourist and stabbing him. The suspect then reportedly left the fast-food establishment and was apprehended by police nearby, allegedly in possession of a knife. The victim sustained stab wounds to his lower right torso and back.
Mercedes, who was found to be carrying a Florida driver's license, has no clear ties to New York City and did not provide police with contact information or a current address. Prosecutors noted that he has a criminal record in Florida.
The McDonald's location, situated at 490 Eighth Avenue near Penn Station, has earned the nickname “murder McDonald’s” from locals. Regulars and a clinic patron described the 24/7 establishment as a known hangout for individuals involved in drug dealing and other illicit activities, with one patron calling it "a little slice of hell."
A panhandler and former drug pusher told The Post that the area becomes particularly dangerous after dark, with "vampires" and "bloodsuckers" emerging. He advised against lingering at the eatery late at night, referring to it as "money hour."