77-year-old man in wheelchair assaulted, critically injured in the Bronx

ALLERTON, Bronx (WABC) -- A 77-year-old man in a wheelchair was critically injured when he was beaten up and tossed to the ground in the Bronx Sunday morning.

Police say George Barretto was pushing his own wheelchair on his way to the grocery store when a man started talking to him on Cruger Avenue in the Allerton section around 7:30 a.m.

Words were exchanged, and the man allegedly assaulted Barretto. As he was being punched and shoved, he was tossed to the ground, fracturing his pelvis.

Authorities say the man picked up their badly injured victim, put him back in the wheelchair and fled.

The victim began wheeling himself away from the scene but was later taken to Jacobi Medical Center, where he was treated for multiple fractures.

The man sustained internal bleeding, and his condition deteriorated at the hospital. He was rushed into surgery in critical condition, but he has since been upgraded to fair condition.

The motive for the assault is not known.

Police described the suspect as a man in his 20s who was wearing a red jacket, gray hoodie and dark pants.

UPDATE: Police have identified the suspect they are looking for as 25-year-old Kevan Seales, of the Bronx. Anyone with information as to his whereabouts is asked to call Detective Borough Bronx at 718-378-8083.