2 women punched in separate attacks within hours of each other on Upper West Side
UPPER WEST SIDE, Manhattan (WABC) -- Two elderly women were punched in seemingly random attacks on the Upper West Side, police say.
Both attacks happened on Friday, September 13, and appear to be unrelated, but occurred within just hours of each other.
In each case, a man walked up to a woman and punched her in the face.
81-year-old Guela Levi Freeman was sucker punched at 66th Street and Amsterdam Avenue while walking her dog.
Surveillance video shows the suspect walking past the woman, then he turns back and sucker punches her, knocking her out cold.
Her dog stayed beside her, while a doorman and others rushed to her aid.
Freeman was taken to the hospital with a fractured nose and was released.
She said she doesn't recall being sucker punched and can't remember the moments leading up to the attack or shortly after and doesn't want to.
"That's the scary part," Freeman said. "And that's why I said he is sick. Had it been somebody who tried to rob me, it would have been someone who wants to get away with something but this guy came out of nowhere."
But Freeman says she won't live in fear.
"People ask me why are you in a good mood. I'm in a good mood because I'm alive and I can tell my story," she said. "I feel as if I got a second lease on life. That's what I feel."
According to NYPD data, felony and misdemeanor assaults are up citywide in 2024.
"There's so many people that just need mental help that are on the street right now," resident Margaret Luh said.
The attacker is described as a man with a medium build wearing a black t-shirt, tan pants, and white sneakers.
A few hours before in a separate incident, a 77-year-old woman was punched in the left eye on West 72nd Street at 2 p.m., police said. A doorman and others rushed to help the woman.
The attacker ran off westbound on 72nd Street towards Columbus Avenue, according to police.
The 77-year-old woman suffered minor injuries but was not hospitalized.
"Nervous," said Upper West Side resident Ciciley Margolies. "I don't go out alone anymore. Used to go all over the place by myself but not anymore."
The NYPD released an image of the second suspect.
Anyone with information in regard to these attacks is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
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