Teen tourist from Australia stabbed inside Midtown McDonald's in apparent unprovoked attack: NYPD
MIDTOWN, Manhattan (WABC) -- A man is facing charges after a 19-year-old tourist from Australia was stabbed overnight inside a McDonalds in Midtown.
The victim was stabbed in the back just after 2 a.m. on Monday inside the restaurant on 8th Avenue at 35th Street.
The victim, who was staying at a nearby hotel, was apparently eating when he got into a dispute with 25-year-old Juan Mercedes of Florida.
The victim was taken to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition and is expected to survive.
Mercedes is facing a charge of assault.
Detectives believe this stabbing was unprovoked.
Regular customers say they avoid this McDonald's during late-night hours.
"There's always fighting over here. There's always arguing. You know sometimes even in the daytime," said customer Tony Wright. "I don't stay out here that late because every time around in the evening at night this is not the time for any one of us to be out here."
The victim, who has not yet been publicly identified, told Eyewitness News on the phone that he is recovering.
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