A shocking cellphone video released by the New York City Police Department on Saturday shows the moment a man hurled traffic cones at a Times Square grocer as the city’s crime tide continued to spiral out of control.
In the video, around 6:15 p.m. on May 14, a black man wearing a black T-shirt, black pants and gray Crocs with socks walked toward the street vendor on the corner of Seventh Avenue and West 40th Street.
The man appeared angry and was soon seen throwing large orange traffic cones at the vendor offscreen.
He eventually walks away – but not before picking up another orange traffic cone in front of him and throwing it at the victim again.
Police say the man and the 57-year-old grocery seller became involved in what appeared to be a verbal argument on May 14 – although it remains unclear what prompted the argument.
At one point, police say, the argument turned physical when the unidentified attacker began kicking and hitting the victim.
He then allegedly picked up a milk crate in the area and hit the grocer over the head before hurling several traffic cones at the victim.
The victim suffered a head laceration as a result, NYPD officials said, and was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where his wound was treated and released.
New York police are looking for a black man accused of throwing traffic cones and a milk crate at a grocery store earlier this month
Cellphone video showed the man hurling traffic cones at the grocer off-screen
Police say the unidentified assailant and the 57-year-old grocery seller became involved in what may have been a verbal argument on May 14 – although what prompted the argument remains unclear
As he left the scene, the man was seen grabbing another traffic cone and throwing it at the man again
The suspect, meanwhile, fled the scene and remains at large. He is described as a black male with an athletic build and short dark hair. He is also believed to be six feet two inches tall and weighs around 160 pounds.
The suspect was last seen wearing a black surgical mask, black sweatpants, black t-shirt and gray Crocs.
Anyone with information regarding the suspect’s identity or whereabouts is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1 (800) 577 – TIPS. All calls remain confidential.
The obvious thrashing comes as the Big Apple’s crime wave continues to spiral out of control, with a 40 percent rise in major crimes.
According to the New York Police Department, serious crime in the city that never sleeps has increased by 40 percent in the last year.
The number of serious crimes in the Big Apple has increased by 40 percent compared to the same time last year
Driving the increase is a 42.5 percent increase in robberies, a 53.1 percent increase in grand larceny and a whopping 58 percent increase in grand larceny from motor vehicles compared to the same time last year.
Burglaries are also up 33.6 percent and assault up 19.6 percent year-on-year – with 8,643 assaults already reported in the first five months of 2022.
Hate crimes, meanwhile, are up 31.1 percent.
And there doesn’t seem to be any sign of slowing down.
On Sunday, a 48-year-old man was shot dead aboard a lower Manhattan subway train in what police say was an accidental, unprovoked attack.
They told the victim was on a northbound Q train pulling into Canal Street station at around 11:42am when the gunman started firing, hitting the man in the chest.
He was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The police are still looking for the perpetrator.
MAY 22: NYPD investigates the scene after a man was shot dead aboard a lower Manhattan subway in what police are calling an indiscriminate assault
MAY 22: The 48-year-old man was on a northbound Q train pulling into Canal Street station at about 11:42 a.m. when the gunman began firing
On Monday, May 16, Kyhara Tay, 11, was shot in the stomach on a Bronx sidewalk in front of her family.
The shooter – later identified as 15-year-old Matthew Goodwin – was riding on the back of a scooter that appeared to be aiming at a different target when the young girl was hit.
He was arrested around 2am on Friday at a local hotel where his mother had reportedly sent him to avoid arrest.
He was charged with murder, manslaughter and dual criminal possession of weapons for Tay’s death.
However, his suspected getaway driver, Omar Bojang, 18, remains at large. He is also wanted for robbery.
And earlier this month, a victim was stabbed to death after an argument broke out between two people at the Dave & Busters sports bar in the heart of Times Square.
The attack happened around 10.40pm on Saturday in the third floor games room when one person drew a knife on the other.
The suspect fled the restaurant after the attack but was arrested a short time later, reports the New York Post.
The victim was taken to St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The motive for the crime has not been made public and it is not clear whether the two people involved in the stabbing knew each other.
And the very next day, a Virginia man visiting his cousin in New York City was shot dead in broad daylight while sitting in a parked car on the Upper West Side.
Ronald Thomas, 27, of Glen Allen, Virginia, was seen getting into an “intense” argument with a woman when a gunman pulled up in a car and shot him in the Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 he was in , New York Daily News reported. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
When his family was informed of the attack, Thomas’ brother went into cardiac arrest.
A local resident, Maria Beltran, told the Daily News that this latest killing has people fearing for their lives.
“I can’t even get out of here,” she said. “I just want to get the hell out of here. I’m going to the store now and then straight home.’
MAY 16: Kyhara Tay, 11, (pictured) was shot dead in broad daylight on a Bronx sidewalk in front of her parents
MAY 2: A victim was hit in the head after an “intense” argument with a woman. He was pronounced dead at the scene
MAY 2: Ronald Thomas, 27, of Glen Allen, Virginia, was fatally shot in broad daylight while sitting in a parked car in New York’s Manhattan Valley
But New York City Mayor Eric Adams lobbied for a campaign to tackle the city’s growing crime problem.
In January, New York City Mayor Eric Adams unveiled a comprehensive plan to combat the rise in crime. These included increased foot patrols as well as the revival of a plainclothes unit called Neighborhood Safety Teams.
He also met with 77 NYPD district commanders and other senior officials earlier this month to discuss ways to combat the spate of violence across the city.
At the meeting, the mayor reportedly emphasized the need for authorities to become more actively engaged with the community, claiming that commanders should know school administrators, homeless shelters and other leaders in the neighborhoods they serve.
“I need everyone to stock up,” Adams told officials at Saturday’s summit, the New York Post reported.
He also asked all commanders present to contribute to what many consider to be “very productive” talks.
“The NYPD mayor and senior staff had a productive meeting with the district commanders today,” said Chris Monahan, president of the Captains Endowment Association, after the meeting.
“But not discussing the real problem of crime growth is counterproductive. We need to talk about the overzealous [Civilian Complaint Review Board] and their lack of experience, prosecutors refusing to charge or prosecute crimes, and state legislatures agreeing to keep violent criminals on the streets.’
“We’re there for them, the community — and the community is there, as you can see,” 7th Precinct commanding officer Luis Barcia told WABC. “They are also doing their part and working with us to stop the violence.”
“Everyone is that serious, including the mayor,” reiterated NYPD Assistant Inspector Ralph Clement.