MANHATTAN, N.Y (PIX11) – Chants of “I’m gonna kill you f——” rang out after a man was punched in the face near a troubled homeless shelter in Manhattan, according to the victim and police.
Manhattan residents Tyler and Andre were walking near the former Skyline Hotel near 49th Street and Tenth Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen when a young boy came darting out and almost running into Tyler at around 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 18, according to the men.
After the incident, Andre said a homeless man came running after them screaming, “You don’t touch my kid. I’m gonna kill you f——.”
The suspect first tried to hit Tyler in the back of the head before punching Andre in the face, sending him to the ground. The victim suffered a 1.5-centimeter cut under the right eye that needed four stitches, according to the victim and police.
Tyler then threatened to call the police before the man ran off, he said.
The men then heard several people on the block assumed to be associated with the hotel encampment, including a couple with a stroller, begin chanting the same homophobic slur, they said.