A normally busy Harlem crossroads briefly turned into a crime scene on Wednesday when a 33-year-old man was slashed in the face and hand at Central Park North and Lenox Avenue, according to police. The attacker ran off on foot and had not been caught as of Thursday, while the victim was treated at a local hospital for injuries described as non-life-threatening.
Detectives released images of a person of interest and are asking neighbors, commuters and anyone passing through the area to comb through their phones and doorbell cameras for any useful footage. The appeal went out from NYPD Crime Stoppers, which identified the case as occurring in the 28th Precinct and urged tipsters to call 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or message @NYPDTips. The department also maintains an online tip portal on its NYPD Crime Stoppers site.
Where it happened
The assault unfolded at the busy junction on the north edge of Central Park, a spot used daily by park visitors, transit riders and neighborhood residents. That intersection sits inside the NYPD's 28th Precinct, per the NYPD precinct listings, which place the precinct's station house at 2271–89 Eighth Avenue in Central Harlem.
Recent slashings nearby
The latest alert lands amid several knife attacks reported across central Harlem in recent weeks. Hoodline previously covered an incident in which a 47-year-old man was ambushed and slashed on West 125th Street and another late-night slashing near West 117th Street, both of which also prompted public appeals from NYPD Crime Stoppers.
How police are handling the case
No arrests have been reported in the Central Park North attack and the investigation is ongoing. Detectives are asking anyone who was in the area at the time to save any cellphone or surveillance video and to send in tips anonymously through the Crime Stoppers hotline, the online portal or by messaging @NYPDTips. Tips that lead to an arrest may qualify for a reward, according to NYPD Crime Stoppers.
Police have not released a broader description of the suspect beyond the images shared by Crime Stoppers. Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or contact @NYPDTips on social media, as noted in the department’s appeal.
