A 76-year-old man died after what police say was an apparently random street attack in Chelsea on Thursday night. Officers found the man unconscious near the intersection of West 18th Street and Seventh Avenue and took him to Bellevue Hospital in critical condition. He died a short time later, according to authorities.
As reported by Gothamist, police identified the victim as Ross Falzone, an Upper West Side resident. Investigators told the outlet that the attacker approached Falzone from behind, pushed him, then took off, wearing a black shirt and black shorts. Detectives were canvassing nearby businesses for surveillance footage, and as of the latest update, police had not announced any arrests.
Where the 13th Precinct Stands
According to NYPD CompStat for the 13th Precinct, Falzone’s death has been recorded as the precinct’s first homicide of the year. The same report shows the precinct logged two homicides in all of 2025. The CompStat sheet also shows felony assaults in the precinct are up by roughly 10 reported incidents through May 3 compared with the same period last year. Citywide CompStat figures show homicides are down about 29% year-to-date, even as some local assault numbers rise, according to citywide data.
Police Appeal for Witnesses
As noted by Gothamist, investigators said they do not believe Falzone and the assailant knew one another. Police asked anyone who was on West 18th Street around 9:30 p.m. Thursday to review doorbell and security camera footage and to contact detectives with any recordings or tips.
