Following an incident on the Upper East Side, Christian Torres, 45, has been convicted on all charges for the assault and attempted robbery of a 91-year-old man. In a statement obtained by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. announced that on Tuesday, a jury found Torres guilty of Assault in the First Degree, Attempted Robbery in the First Degree, and Assault in the Second Degree.
According to trial evidence, the assault occurred on February 1, 2024, at around 10:25 p.m. The elderly man was walking home with groceries from a nearby fruit stand when Torres tried to forcefully snatch his wallet and then pushed him to the ground. After punching the victim, Torres fled the scene. The attack left the victim with five fractured ribs and a hematoma on his liver, leaving him hospital-bound and subsequently requiring extensive rehabilitation. Despite his discharge from Amsterdam Nursing Home, the man's physical mobility continues to suffer and he still experiences pain from the rib injuries. Torres, wanted for his actions, was arrested ten days later by police officers who recognized him from a flyer.
The trial conviction sends a clear message, as imparted by D.A. Bragg, "I hope this conviction sends a message that those who assault older New Yorkers will be held accountable," as stated in the press release. Assistant D.A.s Ellina Cunningham and Robert Saylor together with their team, including Deputy Bureau Chief Elizabeth Clerkin and Bureau Chief Erin Tierney, were responsible for the prosecution of the case. Senior Investigative Analyst Eli Horton, along with other members of the support team, provided essential assistance during the trial.
D.A. Bragg extended his gratitude towards the New York Police Department (NYPD) for their critical role, particularly pointing out Sergeant Vincent Ching, who was instrumental in Torres' capture, and the members of Transit District 4. Torres is scheduled to be sentenced on June 26.
