Barefoot maniac in ski mask assaults teen during UES robbery, witnesses and police say | Upper East Site
Barefoot maniac in ski mask assaults teen during UES robbery, witnesses and police say | Upper East Site

Barefoot Maniac in Ski Mask Assaults Teen During UES Robbery

A bizarre crime on an Upper East Side street corner had cops searching for a barefoot masked man, wanted in a violent robbery that left a teenager hospitalized Friday night, witnesses and police told Upper East Site.

A 16-year-old was attacked by a barefoot man in a ski mask at the corner of East 82nd Street and Lexington Avenue Friday night | Upper East Site
A 16-year-old was attacked by a barefoot man in a ski mask at the corner of East 82nd Street and Lexington Avenue Friday night | Upper East Site

Investigators say it was just after 9:15 pm when a stranger in his 20s — who witnesses tell Upper East Site was barefoot and wearing a ski mask — approached a 16-year-old boy at the southwest corner of East 82nd Street and Lexington Avenue.

ALSO READ | UES Cop Murdered While Aiding Sex Trafficking Victim Honored

According to police, suspect started shoving the teen, pushing him multiple times until the boy fell hard on the sidewalk, bloodying his mouth and leaving drops dotting the sidewalk across the street on the UES block’s northwest corner. One man who saw what happened told Upper East Site the suspect also punched the teen.

Drops of blood from the teens wounded mouth were visible on the sidewalk | Upper East Site
Drops of blood from the teens wounded mouth were visible on the sidewalk | Upper East Site

“He meant business,” the shaken-up eyewitness told Upper East Site after speaking with police at the crime scene, “He was fucking mental. He was out for trouble.”

The masked suspect stole the kid’s cell phone during the attack; however, detectives say the teenager was able to grab it back during a scuffle with the violent thief.

Felony assaults on the Upper East Side have increased more than 28% this year | Upper East Site
Felony assaults on the Upper East Side have increased more than 28% this year | Upper East Site

The barefoot attacker escaped before police arrived. Paramedics took the 16-year-old victim to Weill Cornell Medical Center here on the Upper East Side for medical care.

ALSO READ | Man Beaten Bloody in Brutal UES Subway Assault: NYPD

According to NYPD crime reporting data, the number of robberies on the Upper East Side has fallen nearly 25% through May 7th, a considerable decrease from the same period in 2022. However, felony assaults — such as violent attacks resulting in injuries that require a trip to the hospital — have spiked more than 28% this year.

An eyewitness tells Upper East Site the suspect was 'looking for trouble' | Upper East Site
An eyewitness tells Upper East Site the suspect was ‘looking for trouble’ | Upper East Site

If you recognize the suspect in Friday night’s assault and robbery or have any information that could help investigators, please call the NYPD Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-8477.

For updates around the clock, follow us on InstagramTwitter and Facebook

Suggest a Correction
——
Copyright 2023 Upper East Site. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten, broadcast, or redistributed.

One bad mid-day meal was all it took to induce a severe case of Post-Brunch Stress Disorder in Upper East Site contributor Kelly Kreth | Envato Elements

Bad Mid-Day Meal Induces Post-Brunch Stress Disorder: A Cautionary Tale

New UES Italian bottega ‘da Adriano’ is located at 1198 First Avenue, near East 65th Street | Upper East Site, Skyler Gausney-Jones

New UES Italian Bottega ‘da Adriano’ is a Triple Threat