Police: Man Wanted In West Village Pistol-Whipping Robbed Another Victim Moments Earlier
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police say a man wanted for pistol-whipping a woman in the West Village last weekend robbed a man just minutes before.
Police had already been searching for the gunman in connection with a robbery on Hudson Street near West 10th Street around 3:50 a.m. Saturday. The man followed the 26-year-old victim into a building and demanded her bag at gunpoint, police said.
The suspect then hit the woman in the head with his gun, took the bag and ran off, police said.
The victim refused medical attention at the scene, police said.
On Monday, police announced they believe the same suspect robbed an 18-year-old man in front of 35 E. Ninth St., near University Place, at 3:35 a.m. The suspect exited the passenger side of a small, light-colored SUV, began talking to the victim and then displayed a gun and demanded the teen's property, police said. The robber made off with an LG cellphone and fled westbound on East Ninth in the SUV.
Police released surveillance photos of the man Saturday, including one in which he is seen pointing the gun in the later robbery. On Monday, they released a photo of the SUV and video of the alleged robber.
He is described as a black man, 18 to 25 years old.
Police are asking anyone with information about the robberies to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-8477 or to submit a tip online at NYPDCrimeStoppers.com. All communications are kept confidential.
