Watch CBS News

Caught On Video: Random Sucker Punch Attack In The Bronx Leaves Victim With Broken Jaw; Mount Hope Residents Say 'It's The Usual Around Here'

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - A seemingly random attack was caught on camera in the Mount Hope section of the Bronx.

Police are searching for the suspect seen in surveillance video sucker-punching a stranger.

Bronx Random Sucker Punch
(credit: NYPD)

As CBS2's Christina Fan reports, you can see the suspect throwing the punch on surveillance video. His fist hit the victim so hard, it sends him reeling onto the sidewalk with a broken jaw.

The 47-year-old told police he didn't recognize his attacker and doesn't understand why he was targeted.

The attack left neighbors dumbfounded, too.

"They need to stop for real. There is too much going on in this world. There's a pandemic. Because punching and hurting people - we need to come together," one person told Fan.

The attack happened last Wednesday around 1:30 a.m.

Police say the victim was walking near the corner of East 176th street and Jerome Avenue when he ran into a group of four men.

One of them punched the victim without provocation, then walked away nonchalantly.

As the victim struggles to stand, the suspect appears to go after him a second time, sending the injured 47-year-old running for safety.

"That's why I always tell everybody stay protected and always watch where you're walking," Mount Hope resident Sean Jamain said.

"If you suspect somebody when maybe I'm coming this way and they are coming that, if I see they are not walking properly, I change my route," one person said.

Neighbors who watched the video were left disturbed, but hardly surprised.

"It's the usual around here," one person said.

"You tend to see this a lot around here, to be honest. It just gets worse and worse," said Jaiman.

Bronx Random Sucker Punch
(credit: NYPD)

Police are asking for the public's help to find the man responsible for the assault.

But neighbors say the other three men pictured on surveillance are also responsible, for watching and doing nothing.

"They're cowards, or maybe they don't want to get themselves in trouble," one person said.

"They probably knew that their friend, or whoever it was with them, was going to do something like that. Or they didn't stop him from doing anything, so they are complicit with him," said another.

The victim's injuries were severe enough to land him in the hospital.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.

More From CBS New York:

Christina Fan contributed to this report. 

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.