What to Know
- A trio of young suspects appears to be escalating their attacks on victims in two Queens neighborhood; they've hit 4 times in eight days
- The attacks seem to be getting more violent; the first involved Silly String and a belt, the most recent involved some sort of sharp weapon
- Anyone with information about the attacks is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS
Cops are looking for a trio of young men in a bizarre string of attacks in Queens over the last week in which weapons range from Silly String to fists and belts.
All of the attacks were in Long Island City and Sunnyside.
In the first case in the pattern, on March 9, police say the three men sprayed Silly String in the face of a 62-year-old man, then hit him multiple times in the head and back with a belt. No location was given. He was bruised, but OK.
The suspects, thought to be in their early 20s, allegedly struck three more times over the next eight days in the same police precinct. Two days after the Silly String attack, they allegedly attacked a 34-year-old man as he walked on the corner of Greenpoint and 48th avenues, punching and kicking him as he lay on the ground before taking his wallet, an iPhone X and earpods before fleeing.
He was treated at a hospital for injuries that were not thought to be severe.
Five days after that, on March 16, cops say a 21-year-old victim addressed the trio at 2 a.m. near 39th Avenue and 46th Street. The group punched the person in the face, causing lacerations and bruises. They then ran off with nothing.
The most violent attack, which left a 45-year-old man hospitalized in serious condition, was Monday. In that case, police say the suspects approached him around 1:20 a.m. as he was on his way home from work and slashed and stabbed him. They stole his phone, wallet and backpack before running off. The man was taken to the hospital with multiple lacerations to his head and back.
Anyone with information about the attacks is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
