The intense search for the suspect behind the deplorable unprovoked attack on an 83-year-old man in the Bronx continues amidst horrified reactions from the community and the public for the unthinkable violence on such an elderly, peaceful man.
Police said that the victim, Valentine Hernandez, had just crossed Westchester Avenue at Fox Street Monday afternoon when he was sucker punched by a much younger and much larger man.
Hernandez fell to the ground and lost consciousness. Results of medical examinations later revealed that the old man suffered a laceration to his forehead and fractures to his nose and face. The entire gruesome action was captured by surveillance cameras in the area.
Hernandez was just walking his usual route Monday afternoon in the neighborhood in the Longwood section of the Bronx where he has lived for decades. He is now in a critical condition in Lincoln Hospital.
Hernandez's son, Miguel Santos, is reportedly now desperate to speak to his father. He said his father goes to church six days a week, or when he can, every single day. Santos said his father goes alone, walking by himself without an aide to accompany him despite his advanced age. Santos and the investigators handling the case are all confused about the possible motive behind the attack on an innocent elderly man. What compounds them further is the fact that the attack did not appear to initially be a case of robbery as all his father's cash and credit cards were intact on his pocket when they found the senior citizen.
Based also on the surveillance video, police said the attacker did not even say a word to Hernandez before knocking him unconscious, and abandoning the victim in such a state in the street. The suspect then fled eastbound on Fox Street.
Residents in the area were horrified by news of the attack on one of their own, and an elderly non-violent person at that. One resident blamed the reckless attitude of the youth today and said it is really unfortunate that these things are happening. The man faulted the youth for preying on the defenseless such as Hernandez.
Police described the suspect as a Hispanic man in his 30s, about 5'9" and 260 pounds. At the time of the crime, he was seen wearing a blue baseball cap, a multi-colored sweater, blue jean and yellow work boots.
The authorities are appealing for the public's help in tracking down the suspect leading to his arrest so he could answer for the brutal attack on an elderly man.
Anyone with information on the suspect is asked to call the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Anyone with helpful details to the whereabouts of the suspect as described above may also visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
Source:
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2017/05/10/bronx-elderly-man-attacked/
