A couple and their 1-year-old baby were attacked by a knife-wielding man as they were leaving a Lower Manhattan park Wednesday evening, and police are now investigating the assault as a possible hate crime.
The man and woman, both in their 20s, were leaving Battery Park just before 6 p.m. with their child when they were approached by the man, who was acting erratically, according to police.
Without any provocation, the man took out a knife and used it on the three victims, who are Jewish. Police Commissioner Dermot Shea told CNN Friday morning the attack is being investigated by the department's Hate Crime Task Force.
The father was slashed on the forehead, the mother was cut on her lip and the child got cut on the chin, police said. EMS was called and all three were treated for their injuries at the scene.
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The suspect was caught by police a short time later. Darryl Jones, 30, was taken into police custody on charges of assault, criminal possession of a weapon and possession of a controlled substance.
Shea told CNN that Jones was paroled just last month after serving 7 years for a near-fatal assault.
