Paterson Teen Caught On Video Sucker Punching Man Surrenders To Police
PATERSON, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Many people were outraged upon seeing video of a teen punching a man in what was believed to be a violent game in Paterson, New Jersey.
On Tuesday, that teen turned himself in, and CBS2's Christine Sloan was there to confront him.
"My client is not saying anything right now," said attorney Harley Breite.
Breite identified his client as Kristian Gonzalez. He said Gonzalez is now 18, but was 17 when the video was shot and posted to social media.
Breite denied that the slugging was part of anything that could be termed a "knockout game."
Gonzalez was allegedly seen punching the man in the face while the man was getting ready to cross Rosa Parks Boulevard from Van Houten Street on Dec. 7.
The entire incident was caught on video and posted to Facebook.
The teen walks up to a shorter man standing at a crosswalk as someone out of view says, "Go hit him! Go hit him!"
"I'll knock him over, just knock him over," the teen is heard saying.
"Knock him out, knock him out," someone says out of view.
The teen then sucker punches the other man in the face, sending him falling to the ground as someone out of view laughs.
Gonzalez, a student at Great Falls Academy, had nothing to say as he walked into the Paterson Police Department. As of Tuesday, he had been charged with aggravated assault as a juvenile.
"Did he tell you why he did it?" Sloan asked attorney Briete at a news conference.
"My client is not admitting to anything at this time," Gonzalez said.
Breite said Gonzalez regularly takes medication, but he is not sure if the teen was on any when the disturbing video was shot.
"He's long been diagnosed and medicated for schizophrenia, as well as obsessive defiant disorder, as well as ADHD," Breite said. "I don't think my client was entertaining anything in terms of a game. Certainly, you hear in the video somebody provoking him."
The 16-year-old who was allegedly behind the camera surrendered on Sunday, and remained in custody two days later. He faces the same charges as Gonzalez.
Police have not identified the victim, who is in his 50s. They said he was taken to the hospital and discharged before the video was released.
Paterson police Director Jerry Speziale said such crime will not be tolerated.
"Someone that is just an innocent bystander that was standing on the street corner that ends up getting sucker punched, and knocked cold off his feet," Speziale said.
While most said the video tells the whole story, Gonzalez's attorney said not to judge or vilify his client until the facts are out. In the meantime, Gonzalez's family is supporting him.
Late Tuesday, Gonzalez was at a juvenile detention center in Essex County. Prosecutors may charge him as an adult, but Breite said he would fight the charges.
