Man Beaten by Group on Park Place

A 36-year-old man was attacked by a group of seven who beat him so badly that his jaw broke in two places.

The attack happened just after midnight Saturday as the man was walking home from the subway on Park Place between Vanderbilt and Washington avenues, according to a witness and a police report.

The man told police that the group surrounded him and then one man punched him so hard he fell to the ground. As he lay there, the man kept punching him and kicking his in the head while a second man grabbed his cell phone. The second attacker asked for the man’s wallet, but as he moved to get it out of his pocket the rest of the group started kicking him.   

The group fled when a witness, Mark Andrews, ran outside and yelled that the police were coming, Andrews said.

Andrews had seen the group before the attack as he was walking down Park Place. The group was making a lot of noise, and sensing trouble, he ducked into a friend’s house.

“I was waiting for them to walk by. Instead they crossed and attacked a guy who was on the other side of the street,” he said.

“It was just so horrible,” he added. "This poor guy was just walking home and… [they] attacked him.”

The victim was taken to Methodist Hospital, where he was treated for a broken jaw, a black eye and several lost teeth.

“I would have given them my phone and wallet,” Andrews said the victim told him while they were waiting for the ambulance. “But they didn’t give me a chance.”

In April,  on the corner of Franklin Avenue and Prospect Place. In June  near Carlton Avenue and in July, a during a failed mugging.  

Update: 12/21 1:27 p.m.: Councilwoman Letitia James sent said today that she would be reaching out to the 77th Precinct regarding the attack.

"All of us need to be vigilant during the holiday season," she said. "I urge everyone to be conscious of their surroundings, to walk on well-lit streets and if possible, walk with someone else."

Those wishing for a bicycle can call 718-744-7592 between the hours of Sun.-Thurs., 8 p.m. to midnight, Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m. to 3:30 a.m.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips on the Crime Stoppers' website or by texting their tips to CRIMES (274637), then enter TIP577.  All calls are strictly confidential.