2 teens describe vicious hammer attack in Paterson deli

PATERSON, New Jersey (WABC) -- Police in New Jersey are searching for a man they say attacked two teenagers with a hammer inside a deli Monday afternoon.

The incident happened around 3:40 p.m. inside Charly Grocery, a bodega on East Main Street in Paterson.

Investigators say a black male in his early to mid 40s entered the deli and struck one of the teens several times in the head and body while yelling profanity at him.

Asheek Logan is thankful that he was with his girlfriend Nia when he was viciously attacked by the man with a hammer.

Asheek was ordering a sandwich and became the victim of a brutal assault.

"I just felt the hammer on the back of my head at least twice and after that I fell to the ground. My girlfriend helped me out," said Asheek.

He never saw the attacker come from behind, but his girlfriend Nia Shonda did.

"I was guarding him so nobody would hit him in his head because I know what a blunt object can do to your head, it can cause brain damage or even death," said Nia.

The young couple walks into the deli frequently, but Nia says she's always on guard.

Asheek was hit five to six times.

"I got hit on my back, my legs, my head, my eye, my ear, everything's basically swollen right now," he said.

His family is shaken and said. "My heart is so hurt right now, I can't even fathom the pain that he is going through," said grandmother Alethia Logan. "But this has got to stop, the violence has got to stop. You can't even walk to the store to get a sandwich without being attacked."

Newscopter 7 was over the scene as cops began investigating, looking for a suspect.

"This can happen anywhere. It's just that people need to grow up and understand exactly what they're doing and be responsible," said a neighbor, Alexander Green.

The suspect then fled on a bicycle toward North Main Street.

Both victims were taken to St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center with non life-threatening injuries.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Paterson Police Detectives Bureau at 973-321-1120.