Police: Homeless Man Randomly Attacks 2 People In Hell's Kitchen
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Police have arrested the man they say randomly assaulted two people in Hell's Kitchen Friday morning.
Authorities say the suspect, 27-year-old Methias Edward, walked up to a 59-year-old man near the corner of 46th Street and 10th Avenue around 7 a.m. and hit him in the head with a metal box.
The suspect then attacked a 37-year-old woman at the same location, kicking her multiple times about the body.
The two victims didn't know each other and the attack appears to have been completely random.
The suspect was arrested minutes later near 50th Street and Ninth Avenue. He's been charged with two counts of assault. Authorities say the attacker appears to be homeless and his last address is in Washington D.C.
Business owners in the area were not surprised by the "sucker punch" style assaults.
"The homeless shelters are all around us, we have four of them right around this block... this became like an epicenter of the homelessness," Dr. Simon Flamm, a local dentist told CBS2.
Even though this man in police custody, residents are hoping cops keep a close watch here until it calms down.
"It's gonna keep continuing I believe if they don't put a stop to it," Donna Vanderlinden added.
Edward was charged with two counts of assault. Both victims refused medical attention.
Separately, the NYPD says there was another unrelated assault in Hell's Kitchen Friday morning. It happened at Ninth Avenue near West 43rd Street at 11:15 a.m.
The victim in that attack was taken to an area hospital.
