A 69-year-old homeless man is clinging to life after a blow to the throat from another homeless man in a Manhattan shelter, authorities said Saturday.
Michael Antonicelli was at the men’s shelter on East 3rd Street in the East Village at about 2 p.m. Friday when he got into an argument with Edwin Hernandez, 55, police said.
Hernandez then allegedly punched the Antonicelli in the throat, causing him to fall to the ground.
A security guard at the shelter was unable to stop the fight, a spokesman for the city's Department of Homeless Services said.
"No weapon was involved and a guard was on the scene and tried to stop the fight, but was unfortunately unable to stop the blow that caused the victim to fall and hit his head," the spokesman said.
Antonicelli was rushed to Mount Sinai Beth Israel hospital in critical condition, authorities said. He was unconscious and breathing with the help of a ventilator, police said.
Hernandez was charged with second-degree assault, police said. He was jailed in lieu of $50,000 cash bail.
