Two men returning from the grocery store came face to face with three armed intruders inside a home in Queens, where one of the victims was beat up by a man armed with a meat cleaver, the NYPD says.
On April 23, shortly after 1 p.m., the two men walked inside the home in St. Albans on Farmers Boulevard and saw the three suspects rummaging though the house, police said.
The homeowner put down his groceries and confronted one of the suspects, according to police. The two struggled with each other before the suspect took out a gun, officials said.
The homeowner then struggled with a second suspect who was armed with multiple knives, authorities said.
He was then attacked by the third intruder, who was armed with a meat cleaver, police said.
The second victim ran out the door and the suspects fled, officials said.
Neighbors were surprised to hear about the violent robbery and said it is unusual for the neighborhood.
"There was a whole bunch of blood from his head and his shirt was all bloodied up," Nico Crooks said. "I've never seen that around here and I've been here 12 years. That was a shocker."
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The victim suffered serious injuries to his head, face and hands, authorities said.
He received more than 100 stitches and needed to have his right thumb reattached, police said.
It was not immediately clear why they assaulted the victim, but police said it appears it was a robbery gone bad.
The suspects got away empty handed, authorities said.
