On Tuesday, near Sixth Avenue, a man was reportedly attacked with a metal stick by an individual described as a “disrupted madman.” Witnesses and police confirmed the incident.
A 35-year-old woman, dressed in a stylish leather jacket and slacks, screamed in agony as she fell to the ground, according to one onlooker. Her attacker appeared disheveled, wearing a leather jerkin over a robe paired with high-top sneakers. It was evident to witnesses that the woman had no prior interaction with him.
“Honestly, it was terrifying,” shared Ross, 61, who was present. “He was furious, trying to hurt people.” Ross and his friend, Matthew Maryn, 39, who had just finished a movie, were heading to a diner when they witnessed the chaos unfold on the streets of New York City.
They attempted to step in, but the assailant turned on them with threats. “He was yelling things like, ‘I’m going to knock you out!'” Ross recounted. While the situation unfolded, the woman managed to scramble to her feet and flee to her nearby apartment.
The attacker then headed east on 18th Avenue, making further hostile remarks to the crowd. Maryn called the police, and Ross and his friends climbed onto a cruiser to help locate the suspect, whom they spotted a few blocks away.
“There he was,” Ross remarked ironically, “just walking down the street with this four-foot metal bar.” Officers apprehended the suspect, identified as 37-year-old Rakuan El, who was later charged with a second assault and unlawful possession of a weapon, related to a pipe filled with wood found in his possession.
El had previous charges against him too, including criminal trespassing and robbery, according to law enforcement. The pregnant victim identified him at the 13th precinct and was transported to Bellevue Hospital with pain and swelling but was reported to be in stable condition.
Ross expressed his concern about encountering the suspect, recalling last week when he and his friends trained for a deadlift competition, with his peak at 617.75 pounds. “We were definitely on edge,” Ross said, noting that while his friend is a tall MMA fighter, the unpredictability of the attacker was unnerving.
Ross, a lifelong New Yorker, described the current state of the city as concerning. He reminisced about a time when such violence was uncommon. “Back then, if someone caused trouble, they might get taken somewhere by the police and who knows what would happen,” he noted.
While he empathized with criminals driven by desperation, he found the targeting of vulnerable individuals like pregnant women unacceptable. “I understand that desperation can drive people to crime, but attacking pregnant women is just wrong,” he lamented.
The officers thanked Ross and Marin for their help and offered them a ride back to Westway Diner, which they had intended to visit earlier. Ross mentioned that he ended up eating more than usual due to the shock of the day, enjoying half a roast chicken, vegetable soup, salad, and breadsticks.
