Teen stabbed in Times Square, several charged after dispute with tour bus worker
TIMES SQUARE, Manhattan (WABC) -- Several people have been charged after a confrontation turned violent in Times Square between a group of teenagers and a tour bus ticket vendor.
Police say it started after one of the teens nearly crashed into the ticket vendor on a scooter, that's when things escalated.
The NYPD took all of the teens and the tour bus employee into custody.
But the question is, was this an act of self-defense?
The 67-year-old employee, Amath Sow, was selling tickets for Top View Sightseeing Double Decker Tour Bus around 8:45 p.m. Thursday.
One of the teens on a scooter almost crashed into the man, sparking an argument between the ticket vendor and the group of teens.
Police say the group repeatedly punched the ticket vendor, who pulled out a sharp object and stabbed the 15-year-old.
A friend of 67-year-old man told Eyewitness News Reporter CeFaan Kim the man pulled out a small knife and stabbed the teen in the neck out of self-defense.
"He's standing out here for like 14, 15 hours selling tickets. He's standing. He's minding his own business. And five, six of them walking around acting thugs middle of Times Square. Acting, no behave, no respect. And then one of them bumped him and tried to grab his jacket, you know what, I'm saying all of them around him. He's thinking he doesn't know what's going on," the tour bus ticket seller's friend said.
Our cameras were there as police put handcuffs on four of the teens involved in this and took them into custody.
The 15-year-old who was stabbed tried to flee on a scooter but collapsed.
He was taken to Bellevue Hospital and is expected to recover.
Sow was charged with assault, criminal possession of a weapon and disorderly conduct.
The 15-year-old victim was charged with assault. The four other males, including two 16-year-olds and a 22-year-old, were all charged with assault.
Sow is filing a cross complaint against the four people who attacked him.
The investigation is ongoing.
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