A Long Island road rage incident took a violent turn when a 26-year-old man, identified as Jayson Heitner, allegedly assaulted a 60-year-old driver with a boxcutter and bit him. According to NBC New York, the altercation occurred in Huntington on Tuesday afternoon after a Jeep collided with a 2017 Mercedes Sprinter van.
The Suffolk County police say the 60-year-old, who has not been named for protection, sustained multiple cuts to his face and body, as well as bite wounds to his fingers. Struck by the Jeep, driving a van on West Neck Road, near Old Hickory Lane, the victim's injuries were serious but not life-threatening, and he was transported to a hospital for treatment. Heitner, who is also a Touro College grad student and a first responder, now faces second-degree assault charges, as per Patch.
Responding to the assault charges, Heitner alleged during his arraignment in court that the incident was an act of self-defense. Reportedly, he claimed that the older man had initially brandished a knife, sparking the violent response. To support this allegation, his attorney described the situation as a "clear case of self-defense" and voiced intentions for Heitner to testify before a grand jury, with the expectation of exoneration. The court has set bail at $75,000 for the accused.
As the investigation into this heated encounter proceeds, authorities are calling on witnesses who may have crucial information pertinent to this case. Suffolk County detectives are encouraging anyone with insights to come forward and have provided the contact number to the Second Squad with explicit instructions for reaching out. Those with any information are urged by detectives to contact the Second Squad at 631-854-8252.
