Police: Suspect Wanted In Manhattan Brick Attack
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police are searching for a suspect who they said attacked a man with a brick during an attempted robbery in Manhattan.
It happened on 58th Street near 11th Avenue just before 11 p.m. Saturday.
Police said the suspect came up behind 37-year-old Andrew Billington, who was walking with his girlfriend, and then bashed him in the head with a brick.
Police: Suspect Wanted In Manhattan Brick Attack
The suspect then dug into Billington's pockets, but ran away empty-handed, police said.
Billington and his girlfriend were trying to hail a cab after attending a Stereophonics concert at Terminal 5 when the attack happened, CBS 2's Amy Dardashtian reported.
Billington was taken to Bellevue Hospital where he is now listed in stable condition, Dardashtian reported.
Upper West Side residents said the attack harkens back to 1999 when a homeless man randomly struck Nicole Barrett with a six-pound brick on 42nd Street.
"It's horrible, it used to happen all the time and now it's infrequent and rare and it's still shocking and horrific," resident Doug Cohen said.
"I'm used to walking around here, I've lived here my whole life, but sometimes it gets scary cause you never know," resident Jessica Garcia said.
Police released a grainy photo of the suspect, but are scouring security cameras hoping for a clearer image.
The suspect is described as a light-skinned black or Hispanic male between 20 and 25 years old, about six feet tall weighing around 160 to 170 pounds with a mustache.
He was last seen wearing a red hooded sweatshirt, blue waist length jacket, black jeans, black and white sneakers and a black baseball hat.
Billington is a marathon runner from London who now lives on the Upper West Side. He is an accountant for Thomson Reuters and has raised thousands of dollars running for charity, Dardashtian reported.
Members of the runner club New York Flyers are rallying behind Billington.
"He's an avid runner, a very well-liked, well-respected, loved member of our community," the club's vice president Michael Rabin told 1010 WINS' Juliet Papa.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS, visit CrimeStoppers.com or text tips to 274637(CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
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