A 17-year-old boy was stabbed outside a Midtown Chipotle on Tuesday evening, according to police, in a burst of sidewalk violence just a short walk from Times Square. The teen was hit in the torso, right hand and right cheek, and was rushed to Weill Cornell Medical Center. Authorities said his condition was serious but stable after treatment.
Trio Nabbed After Sidewalk Attack
Officers moved quickly at the scene and took three men into custody, later charging them with felony assault and criminal possession of a weapon. The suspects were identified as 20-year-old Andrew Dawson, 19-year-old Justin Mercado and 20-year-old Richird Benitez, police said. One of the men was carrying two knives when he was arrested, according to police arrested three men.
Stabbing Outside Eighth Avenue Chipotle
The violence broke out on Eighth Avenue near West 51st Street, right outside the Chipotle in Midtown Manhattan, authorities said. The 17-year-old was taken to Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he was listed as serious but stable, "serious but stable" after the attack. Detectives said it was not immediately clear which of the three men allegedly stabbed the teen, and investigators believe the suspects were strangers to him.
Cops Work Cameras, Witnesses as Case Builds
NYPD detectives continued working the case into the night, pulling surveillance footage from nearby buildings and interviewing witnesses who saw the confrontation unfold. The three suspects were held at the scene and are expected to be processed by prosecutors, although arraignment and bail details were not yet available. The felony charges they face can carry significant prison time if prosecutors move forward and a jury convicts.
Busy Block Shaken, Police Seek Tips
The intersection near Times Square is a packed restaurant and transit strip, and officers kept a visible presence on the block while detectives canvassed for video and additional eyewitnesses. The NYPD is asking anyone with information or relevant footage to contact detectives or Crime Stoppers. Nearby businesses said the stabbing briefly slowed foot traffic on an otherwise crowded stretch of Eighth Avenue, as customers navigated around police tape and patrol cars.
