He was never a victim of a violent crime until now.
While it is hard to look at his massive cut, Kenneth Newell is lucky.
Doctors say the young man who slashed him in the Bronx, just missed his jugular vein.
Police released a surveillance photo of the man they are looking for.
The first incident happened on Sunday at 8:50 p.m. on Boston Road when Kenneth, an electrician, was just minding his own business doing an errand.
The 60-year-old was just walking to do his grocery shopping.
"And then all of a sudden I was attacked from behind," Newell said.
He's not the only one. A 65-year-old woman was the second victim. She was too scared to show her full face on camera.
Looking at her injury you can certainly see why.
Police believe the same man is responsible.
"He didn't say anything, he didn't touch me, he just slashed my face and walked off," the woman said.
Nearly five inches of her face was slashed from her ear to her nose.
The attack was in front of an auto supply shop in broad daylight Monday, just up the block on Boston Road from where Newell was attacked.
In his case Good Samaritans at a pizza shop helped stop the bleeding.
"I told him to calm down, to tell me what happened, and then I bring more tissue so he could hold on, so nothing could happen to him," said Diego Herera, a Good Samaritan.
In both cases, the injuries were very traumatic and that's the reason why cops and residents want people who've seen the suspect to speak up.
"I mean, you can't even be free in your own neighborhood, it's sickening," said Christine Smikle, a Williamsbridge resident.
"I think he's sick. He needs help and someone should really help him," the female victim said.
Nothing was taken from either victim.
The suspect is described as black man, approximately 5'9", 150 lbs., wearing a white shirt.
Anyone with information in regard to either of these incidents is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).
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