On Friday, New York City police apprehended five individuals believed to be involved in a chaotic altercation in Times Square. Among those arrested were several migrant teenagers. Authorities continue to pursue an additional 16 suspects linked to the incident.
The victim, a 17-year-old migrant from Nicaragua, was stabbed in the back by a group of assailants wearing masks on Thursday evening. The attack prompted a widespread search by the NYPD for the 16 individuals allegedly involved in the assault.
‘I saw someone running’
During his inaugural visit to the renowned tourist spot, a 17-year-old from Nicaragua found himself under attack alongside his friends, triggering a frantic search for 16 suspects. The incident unfolded on West 42nd Street near Eighth Avenue at approximately 5:30 p.m., as recounted by multiple sources familiar with the investigation.
Confronted by the assailants with aggressive remarks of “What’s up? What are you looking at?”, the group of friends was swiftly pursued by the gang. The confrontation escalated when one of the attackers stabbed the teen in the lower back, causing profuse bleeding and leaving him sprawled on the pavement, according to police reports.
Eyewitness Bell Mohamed, who works in the vicinity, described the harrowing scene: “I saw someone running… and there was blood coming from his back, coming from everywhere.”
Struggling to defend himself from the assault, the victim recounted attempting to shield his head from the assailants’ blows before losing consciousness. His memory of the events thereafter remains blank, as per sources.
Emergency Medical Services promptly transported the injured teenager to Bellevue Hospital, where he was reported to be in stable condition by authorities. At the crime scene, law enforcement recovered a sizable knife stained with blood, further evidence of the violent encounter.
NYPD made some arrests
Michael Colome, a 22-year-old resident of Queens, faces charges including gang assault, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon, according to police reports.
Additionally, three 16-year-old boys and one 14-year-old, whose identities were withheld due to their status as minors, have been charged with gang assault and assault, as confirmed by law enforcement authorities.
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Another young individual was briefly detained but subsequently released, as stated by the police. Sources indicated that at least two of the detained teenagers were migrants originating from Venezuela.
This incident adds to a string of violent altercations involving migrants in the vicinity, prompting concern among both locals and tourists.
“It’s dangerous,” remarked Mohammed, a witness to the stabbing. “Some people are just crazy.”
Jhon Willy, a journalism student visiting from Michigan with her parents, expressed awareness of the violence and indicated plans to avoid Times Square during nighttime.
