New York City police are currently seeking an individual who, in a rather alarming incident, approached a 44-year-old man from behind near 1638 Park Avenue. This person threw an unidentified substance at the victim, resulting in severe burns to his face and neck.
According to police reports, the event took place around 8:47 p.m. on Monday. After the attack, the perpetrator fled the scene on foot, heading north on Park Avenue. Authorities are categorizing this as an assault case.
From a witness account, it was described that the substance looked “hot” and appeared to be bubbling and smoking. Victim Mr. Alcantara was, at the time, waiting for his food order outside a local eatery called Cravin Crispy, located at the intersection of Park Avenue and East 116th Street. A man walked by him, seemingly carrying a pot, before unexpectedly throwing the caustic substance.
Alcantara recounted the shocking moment: “I felt a splash of something, and then after I felt the splash, it turned into a complete burn.” He added that the hoodie he was wearing didn’t stand a chance against the substance, which turned parts of his skin black.
He shared that the chemical made his skin feel as if it was on fire, leading to burns on the left side of his face, his ear, and the back of his neck. Describing his injuries, he noted the skin color variations on his body, with black, white, and pink areas, along with several blisters.
Witnesses inside Cravin Crispy mentioned that Alcantara ran in screaming for assistance, leaving Oscar Perez, who was working behind the counter, feeling quite shaken by the whole ordeal. He mentioned seeing the man with the pot but had no indication that he would attack a customer.
As for the substance that was used in the attack, Perez could only speculate: “Only God knows what it was.” The aftermath left marks on the sidewalk and significant injuries for Alcantara, who admitted that he didn’t fully realize the gravity of the incident until he viewed recordings of it.
“Obviously at first it was terrifying,” Alcantara mused. “All I wanted to know is why?” He learned from doctors that he was fortunate the substance didn’t get near his eyes, something he expressed gratitude for, as it could have led to blindness.
Doctors have indicated that Alcantara will require a skin graft procedure, and he’s uncertain if he’ll ever look the same as before. He expressed a wish for the suspect to be apprehended to prevent further harm to others.
Authorities encourage anyone with information about the assailant to reach out via the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish speakers, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Tips can also be submitted through the Crime Stoppers website.
