Man in Top Hat Stabs Three After Food Dispute in NYC
An assailant wearing a black top hat attacked three individuals on the Lower East Side after an argument escalated into violence.
A man dressed in a black top hat stabbed three people following a dispute over food at the intersection of Bowery and Delancey Street early Wednesday morning, according to police and sources.
The incident began around 1:15 a.m. when a 26-year-old man from Queens was eating on the sidewalk. Authorities reported that the suspect initiated an argument with the victim before stabbing him in the stomach. The assailant then turned on two bystanders, a 21-year-old and a 19-year-old, both from California, who attempted to intervene. The younger bystander was stabbed in the left arm, and the older bystander sustained a slash to the left shoulder.
After the stabbings, the suspect reportedly took the first victim's fanny pack, which contained credit cards, before fleeing the scene. He was still at large as of Wednesday evening.
All three victims were transported to Bellevue Hospital and are reported to be in stable condition.
The NYPD released a photograph of the suspect, who was last seen wearing a black stovepipe top hat over a black baseball cap, black clothing, and black gloves. The police are asking anyone with information regarding the suspect's whereabouts to contact the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or 1-888-57-PISTA (74782) for Spanish speakers. Tips can also be submitted through the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/ or via X to @NYPDTips.
