72-year-old man speaks out after random attack on street in Queens
ELMHURST, Queens (WABC) -- A 72-year-old man is speaking out after a violent, random assault in Elmhurst, Queens.
Jen Lee tells Eyewitness News he and his wife had just finished shopping at a mall on Queens Boulevard last week.
They walked past a couple arguing when, Lee said, the man suddenly turned toward him, shoved him into a wall and hit him with a sucker punch.
Lee fell to the ground.
"Then his hands, tried to put into my pockets," said Lee. "And I said, 'What do you want?' He said, 'Give me anything that you have!'"
Lee said there was nothing to take.
The suspect found that out after he rummaged through his pockets, then took off.
Lee's wife called 911, and he was taken to NYC Health and Hospitals/Elmhurst.
He's going to be okay, but he's struggling to understand why this happened.
The assault happened in broad daylight, on a Tuesday morning, adding to the number of concerning random attacks in the city.
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Asked why someone would assault him like that, Lee answered, "I have no idea."
He told Eyewitness News he still has back pain from the attack.
And while he said he's not nervous or on edge, he doesn't want anyone else to experience what happened to him.
Surveillance cameras caught a glimpse of the suspect.
He is described as a man in his 20s with a dark complexion and a thin build, last seen wearing black winter hat, a black hooded winter jacket, light gray sweatpants and white sneakers.
Police are asking for the public's help tracking him down.
Call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit tips by visiting the CrimeStoppers website at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org or by messaging on Twitter @NYPDTips.
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