A quiet early morning on Coney Island turned ugly Wednesday when a masked man reportedly slashed a 26-year-old in the face on Surf Avenue, sending the victim to the hospital and sparking a manhunt through the neighborhood streets.
Police say the attacker, dressed head to toe in black and wearing a mask, bolted on foot after the assault as officers fanned out across nearby blocks during the pre-dawn hours. The victim was hospitalized and is expected to recover.
What police say
Investigators told reporters the attack happened just after 4:30 a.m. along Surf Avenue. The 26-year-old man was taken to a hospital and is expected to be OK, according to News 12 Brooklyn. No arrests have been made, and detectives are still searching for a masked man dressed all in black.
Recent cases raise concern
The slashing lands on a growing list of knife and razor incidents that have Brooklyn residents on edge. In December, the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office announced that a Coney Island man was arraigned on charges tied to a slashing spree that wounded three people, according to a DA press release. Local coverage later walked through the arraignment and allegations in detail, adding to worries about seemingly random slashings in the borough, as reported by the Brooklyn Eagle.
Neighborhood reaction
Neighbors and commuters say this cluster of early-morning violence is making people nervous just as the summer crowds start to roll in. Regulars along Surf Avenue and the nearby transit hubs say they are watching their surroundings a little more closely.
Hoodline previously reported on a February street confrontation in which a 13-year-old was slashed in the face, and an April robbery on Mermaid Avenue that involved another slashing near the heart of the neighborhood’s nightlife. Those incidents have amplified concerns around local transit stops and the boardwalk. Earlier coverage includes Teen Slashed In Morning Street Clash and Midnight Slashing On Mermaid Avenue.
How to help
The NYPD’s 60th Precinct covers the Surf Avenue area, and investigators are asking anyone with information about the latest incident to reach out. Tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-577-TIPS or by filing a tip online, according to the NYPD.
More information on local coverage and how to submit tips is available through the NYPD’s resources: see the 60th Precinct page and the NYPD Crime Stoppers program.
