Three men are on the run after police say they tried to rob a 16-year-old boy of his jacket at knifepoint inside a Bensonhurst McDonald’s, turning a routine fast-food stop into a frightening ordeal.
According to investigators, the trio confronted the teen around 7 p.m. on Jan. 3 inside the Bay Parkway restaurant and one of them ordered, "Give me your jacket." The boy bolted for the door, but the suspects chased him outside, where one man pulled a knife while the others allegedly punched the teen in the face. EMS brought the victim to Maimonides Medical Center, and he is expected to be OK.
Police Release Details and Seek Tips
As reported by News 12 New York, officers say the suspects first tried to rip the jacket off the teen inside the restaurant, then chased him outside when he ran. The confrontation escalated on the street, and police say the group then took off from the McDonald’s toward nearby 67th Street. They have not been found.
Detectives are canvassing nearby businesses and combing through surveillance footage as they ask anyone who was in the area that evening, or who recognizes the suspects, to reach out.
How This Fits a Troubling Pattern
Police recently logged another jacket-grab involving a blade, this one reported on Jan. 22 when a suspect with a knife demanded a teen’s coat aboard an N train. The incident highlighted how quickly small confrontations can turn dangerous, according to a report on a knife-wielding thief nabbing a teen’s jacket.
Detectives say that in fast, chaotic encounters like these, quick eyewitness tips or phone video often make the difference in identifying suspects after they flee.
Potential Charges
Under New York law, robbery is defined as forcible stealing, and using or showing a weapon or causing physical injury can significantly raise the stakes. New York State Senate records explain that displaying a weapon or causing injury can elevate a case to robbery in the second or first degree, both felony offenses.
How to Help
Anyone with information about the Bensonhurst incident is urged to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip through the department’s online portals or mobile app. The program allows anonymous reporting, according to the NYPD.
Investigators say they are continuing to review surveillance from the Bay Parkway area as the search for the three suspects continues.
