Subway Assault Victim Who Suffered A Cracked Skull After Sucker Punch Speaks To CBS2
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - The NYPD wants help identifying the suspect in an assault in the subway system that left the victim with a cracked skull.
CBS2's Dave Carlin spoke to the victim, who says there were no words exchanged or fight beforehand - just a sudden punch.
The attack happened Sunday at 12:30 p.m. on the mezzanine area of the 34th Street/8th Avenue subway station.
Warren Collins, Jr., 28, of Bellmore, Long Island has a cracked skull from the sucker punch.
Initial reports said the victim and the suspect got into an argument, but the victim told CBS2's Dave Carlin there was no altercation and no verbal dispute.
He says he looked at the man without a word but that seemed to set him off.
The victim said he was in the city to celebrate his girlfriend's birthday.
Collins fell backward, hitting his head on the banister of the staircase.
Still in a lot of pain, Collins spoke to Carlin over the phone.
"I didn't even say anything until I just looked at him, and then the next thing I know I was walking away. He punched me in the back of my head," he said. "The guy punched me and I fell."
Knocked unconscious, when Collins came to, the suspect was long gone.
He desperately needed medical attention - his girlfriend told him as much - but he didn't believe it until later.
Even though he was injured, he managed the strength to get on a train and make it home to Long Island.
"I was bleeding bad from a couple different parts of my head," he said. "I went to the hospital about eight hours later."
He says he fears if the volatile bearded man in the jean jacket is not caught soon, this might happen to someone else.
"Very scary," one commuter told Carlin.
"You have to be self aware of who's around you," another said.
Even in a place guarded by officers around the clock like Penn Station, it only takes one quick punch, making this case an important reminder to remain extra cautious.
Anyone with any information is asked to call NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or 1-888-57-PISTA (74782) for Spanish. You can also submit a tip via the Crime Stoppers website, by Tweeting @NYPDTips or by texting a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) and then entering TIP577.