Two elderly women were assaulted in separate, unprovoked attacks on the Upper West Side on Friday, September 13th, sparking concern among local residents. Although these incidents occurred just hours apart, police say they appear unrelated.
The first victim, 81-year-old Guela Levi Freeman, was walking her dog near 66th Street and Amsterdam Avenue when she was suddenly sucker-punched by a man. Surveillance footage showed the assailant casually walking past Freeman before turning back and striking her in the face, knocking her unconscious. Her dog stayed by her side until a nearby doorman and others rushed to her aid. Freeman was hospitalized with a fractured nose but was released soon after. Reflecting on the incident, Freeman admitted she doesn’t remember the attack or the moments leading up to it. “That’s the scary part,” she said. “Had it been somebody who tried to rob me, it would’ve been someone who wants to get away with something, but this guy came out of nowhere.”
Just hours before this, another woman, aged 77, was assaulted on West 72nd Street around 2 p.m. She was punched in the left eye by a different assailant while walking near Columbus Avenue. Though she suffered minor injuries, she was not hospitalized. Police released images of the second suspect and continue to search for both attackers.
Authorities urge anyone with information regarding these attacks to contact the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish speakers, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
