33-year-old man indicted on assault charges in string of glass bottle attacks in Midtown

ByEyewitness News WABC logo
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
ABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness News Stream
Stream New York's #1 news - Accuweather - original content 24/7

MIDTOWN, Manhattan (WABC) -- A man has been indicted for randomly attacking several people with a glass bottle in Midtown last month.

Michael Howell, 33, was charged with two counts of assault in the first degree, one count of attempted assault in the first degree and three counts of assault in the second degree.

The charges stem from a violent string of glass bottle attacks on October 5.

A man is in custody after police say he used a glass bottle to attack three people at random in Midtown, Manhattan Thursday night.

Officials say Howell hit a 24-year-old man in the face and head with a glass bottle in front of a Whole Foods located on 6th Avenue between 41st Street and 42nd Street.

Minutes later, they say Howell entered the store, grabbed another glass bottle and hit a 49-year-old woman in the head and face in front of a food counter.

RELATED: Eyewitness News is tracking crime and safety across New York City and in your neighborhood

About 20 minutes later, after riding the subway one stop uptown, officials say Howell repeatedly struck a 55-year-old woman in the head with another glass bottle inside a train car that was stopped at Rockefeller Center station.

All three victims were treated at the scene and in the hospital for various cuts and bruises.

"As alleged, Michael Howell attacked three New Yorkers with glass bottles as they were just trying to go about their regular evening," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said. "No one should have to experience this type of violence in a Manhattan grocery store or subway station, and I hope the victims fully recover from their injuries."

----------

* Get Eyewitness News Delivered

* More Manhattan news

* Send us a news tip

* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts

* Follow us on YouTube

Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News

Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.