A 32-year-old man was knifed in the chest during an apparently random stabbing on a quiet Brooklyn street, police and witnesses said Saturday.
The victim was standing outside a Mediterranean restaurant on Seventh Ave. near Lincoln Place in Park Slope about 9 p.m. on Tuesday when a stranger stormed up to him and plunged a knife into him, cops were told.
The attacker may have mumbled something right before bringing the knife down on his victim, police said.
“The guy was on the other side and just crossed the street, turned over, stabbed the guy and just ran away,” said Sydni Hines, who works at a nearby restaurant. “The victim was next door [to us]. He was just standing with two or three other people.”
EMS rushed the victim to New York Presbyterian-Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, where he was expected to survive.
The victim told police that he didn’t recognize the man who assaulted him. There also wasn’t any interaction between the two men before the attack, cops were told.
“From my understanding it seems like this was random,” said one witness, who asked not to be named. “It’s pretty shocking because this is a good area, I haven’t heard of an incident like that ever happening here.”
“I just hope the guy is OK,” he said.
Hines also believes the attack was random.
“I don’t know if anything prior happened, but from what we seen… it just seemed random,” she said. “It’s not shocking because it’s Brooklyn. But for the area it’s shocking because it’s Park Slope, it’s a pretty good area.”
Overall crime in Park Slope, which is protected by the 78th Precinct, has dropped considerably this year, police said.
As of Sept. 22, cops have seen an 18% drop in assaults in the neighborhood, from 148 this time last year to 121. Robberies are also down by 30%.
The number of murders in the area has increased, however, from one last year to two, cops said.
Detectives recovered surveillance footage of the bearded attacker, who wore a black ski cap, a white T-shirt and black jeans the night of the attack.
Cops released the images to the public on Saturday in the hopes someone recognizes him.
A $3,500 reward is being offered for any information leading to the attacker’s arrest.
Anyone with information regarding the suspect’s whereabouts is urged to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All tips will be kept confidential.