Police said Wednesday that two friends leaving a bar in Hell's Kitchen were involved in a violent collision with a man riding a moped on the sidewalk, leaving one friend unconscious and one friend barely escaping with his life.
Police sources said the seriously injured victim, a 38-year-old German immigrant from Brooklyn, remains intubated as police continue to search for the threatening moped driver.
The victims left Rudy's Bar & Grill at 2:40 a.m. Tuesday and were walking to an Uber waiting on the sidewalk when an assailant in a black moped collided with the victim's friend, who was seriously injured, on the sidewalk and lightly jabbed him in the arm.
Police sources said the friend was a 56-year-old man from Illinois who was visiting the city on a business trip.
An altercation occurred as the gunman passed two men on 9th Avenue near West 43rd Street.
Police said the moped driver drove off but soon returned and began arguing with the two men, during which the driver punched the elderly victim in the face, knocking him unconscious.
Police said a German immigrant who tried to stop the attack was also punched in the face, causing him to stumble backwards onto the sidewalk, hitting the back of his head on the concrete.
Police sources said the fight was captured on the bar's surveillance camera.
The young victim suffered serious head injuries and was rushed to Bellevue Hospital in critical condition, while his friend was taken to Mount Sinai West Hospital where he was treated and released.
The suspect fled the scene and is currently unknown. The suspect is described as a black man, approximately 5'10″ tall, with braided black hair. He was wearing a white T-shirt and black pants with white stripes down the legs.
Police have released surveillance camera footage of the suspect and are asking the public to help identify and track him down.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
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