Denzel Bimpey, who has no gang affiliation, and the suspects apparently all boarded at the same Syracuse bus depot and had an uneventful ride to Manhattan, arriving Friday night.
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As they retrieved their luggage from the bus, a verbal dispute erupted between friends of Bimpey, a student at SUNY Morrisville, and the suspects' group, who attend SUNY Onondaga Community College.
Video in the media player above is from a previous report.
The suspects' group asked the victim and his two friends "what block are you from," as a way of inquiring about their gang affiliation. The victim responded, saying they were not in a gang.
Bimpey attempted to deescalate the dispute but was instead stabbed three times. He suffered a seven-to-eight-inch puncture wound to the mid chest, a puncture to his right shoulder and a cut to his forearm.
He attempted to run away with his friends but fell to the ground. A weapon, possible a knife or boxcutter, was found nearby.
The suspects ran back up Park Avenue and fled in a black SUV.
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Detectives obtained surveillance video from the Syracuse bus hub and are now identifying the three persons of interest involved in the fight. They are reputed members of a gang based in Harlem.
The victims and suspects are not believed to have had any interaction before the fight erupted Friday night.
The victim has no prior record.
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