A top-hatted assailant remained at large Wednesday evening after stabbing three men during a predawn confrontation over food at a busy Lower East Side intersection.
The NYPD released a photo of the suspected attacker, last seen wearing a black stovepipe top hat layered over a black baseball cap, along with all-black clothing and black gloves.
The violence erupted around 1:15 a.m. Wednesday at the corner of Bowery and Delancey Street, where a 26-year-old man from Queens was eating on the sidewalk, according to police and law enforcement sources. The stranger in the distinctive headwear began arguing with him, and the dispute turned physical.
The attacker then stabbed the Queens man in the stomach, police said. He subsequently grabbed the victim’s fanny pack, which contained multiple credit cards, before fleeing the scene.
Two bystanders who attempted to intervene became targets themselves. The men, aged 21 and 19 and both from California, were attacked when the assailant turned on them, according to cops and sources. The younger man suffered a stab wound to his left arm, while the older man was slashed on his left shoulder, police said.
All three victims were transported to Bellevue Hospital, where they were listed in stable condition.
The intersection of Bowery and Delancey, a major crossroads on the Lower East Side, typically sees heavy foot traffic even in the early morning hours, with numerous restaurants and nightlife venues nearby.
Authorities are asking anyone with information on the suspect’s whereabouts to contact the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish speakers, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Tips can also be submitted through the Crime Stoppers website or via the department’s X account, @NYPDTips.
The attacker had not been apprehended as of Wednesday evening, and police continued their search for the man in the black top hat.