A man without shoes launched a random attack on several people, including police officers, in Chelsea on Wednesday morning.
According to police, he assaulted 38-year-old artist and photographer Jose Castillo at the intersection of West 26th and Seventh Avenues. Castillo, who has lived in New York for 12 years and operates a studio in Soho, was just on his way to gather supplies in Chelsea.
Suddenly, he described the assailant turning violent. “It felt like I was punched in the face, and then I was on the ground,” he said, adding that while he wasn’t knocked out, he definitely went down from the blow.
Once he collected himself, Castillo recalled being told by a passerby, “You’re bleeding on your face. You should call the police.” After making the 911 call, his attention was drawn to the attacker again, who had just struck a teenage girl visiting New York with her mother.
“I saw him hit her from half a block away,” Castillo stated. “But by the time I got there, she was already in tears, clearly shaken from being assaulted in the street.”
When he approached, he asked the girl, “Did he hit you too?”
It seemed like chaos ensued, and both mother and daughter had left the scene by the time officers arrived. “I guess this will be a memorable New York story for them,” Castillo reflected.
While waiting for authorities, he saw the same man strike another young person. “He attacked one kid who didn’t even look like he was paying attention,” Castillo explained. He informed the dispatcher about the ongoing violence.
When officers arrived, the situation escalated. The suspect reportedly punched a 30-year-old male officer and spat at a 30-year-old female officer. Another officer, age 53, injured his shoulder while trying to subdue the assailant.
“As they got closer, he began thrashing around and hit one of the officers in the face,” Castillo said. “He wasn’t very big—maybe 5’7″—but he had surprising strength for someone who looked so skinny.”
Describing the scene as “a mess,” Castillo recalled how officers struggled to restrain the man until additional help arrived.
Castillo received treatment for minor injuries but felt he might need further evaluation. “I’m thinking I’ll need X-rays on my face. I feel like he might have moved a tooth,” he said.
According to the police, both injured officers were in stable condition after being hospitalized. The attacker, identified as emotionally disturbed, was taken into custody and moved to Bellevue Hospital for evaluation.
While authorities have not released his name, they noted that he was referred to as “John Doe.” Strangely, the man was only wearing socks during the incident, despite the chilly weather.
Reflecting on the attack, Castillo remarked, “Most of the time, he was just silent and threatening, invading people’s personal space. I’ve lived here for 12 years, and I’ve seen my share of odd behavior, but this guy really seemed to require help.”
He added that such a violent encounter shouldn’t occur. “We should explore ways to support those in need,” he emphasized. “The police were quick to respond and very helpful. I’m grateful we have strong law enforcement in our city to rely on.”
