Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. announced the conviction of Hasson Victoria, 45, for a series of scissor attacks in the West Village. Victoria received an eight-year state prison sentence after pleading guilty to an attempted assault charge. The assaults, which took place within a span of roughly 10 minutes on the morning of July 27, 2023.
According to the Manhattan District Attorney's office, the first victim, a 28-year-old man, avoided what could have resulted in a stabbing. Roughly five minutes later, a second victim, a 24-year-old man, was struck twice in the arm. Victoria moved on to a third target, injuring a 45-year-old man's neck. The incident unfolded across well-known streets in the West Village, including Hudson, Charlton, Bleecker Street, and Eighth Avenue, before police apprehended Victoria.
The arrest and weapon recovery occurred within minutes at West 42nd Street and Eighth Avenue, where officers discovered the scissors hidden in Victoria's waistband. The prompt response by the NYPD was instrumental in preventing additional harm. District Attorney Bragg emphasized the significance of prosecuting such cases, stating, "This defendant is now facing accountability for this random assault on three strangers." He also noted the broader impact of random acts of violence on both the victims and the community’s overall sense of safety, as stated in the press release.
The prosecution team, led by Assistant D.A. Yuval Simchi-Levi with assistance from various members of the Trial Bureau 60, worked diligently to ensure the case's resolution. The team's coordination with NYPD precincts and specialized task forces was instrumental in bringing the string of attacks to a close.
