Yeshivah Bachur Assaulted in Midwood

A bachur walking home from yeshivah was assaulted Monday evening, shocking the frum community in Midwood, which was still reeling from news of a vicious attack early that morning.

According to a press release from New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind, the 17-year-old boy was walking home at 6:30 p.m. Monday evening, when he was approached by an African American male, around 5-foot-8 and wearing a black hooded sweatshirt,

at East 29th Street and Avenue L. When the bachur was about a foot away, the assailant suddenly lunged at him and punched him on the side of his face.

The victim was knocked down, and sustained bruising to the side of his face. Baruch Hashem, the victim is home and in stable condition, Ryan Haas, Communications Director for Assemblyman Hikind, told Hamodia.

The New York Police Department’s 70th Precinct responded to the call. Hikind, who met with the victim Monday evening, also reached out to the 70th Precinct to request an increase in police patrols throughout the community. “I will do all I can to ensure the residents of this community that they can walk the streets safely,” Hikind said, in the press release. “I’m confident that the NYPD 70th Precinct and the Shomrim will work relentlessly until justice is served.”

This was the second attack on a member of the Midwood Jewish community in less than 24 hours. Shortly before 1:00 a.m. Monday, a 60-year-old frum man was robbed and brutally assaulted on Avenue M between East 8th and 9th Streets.

The two attacks do not appear to be linked, Robert Moskovitz, Executive Coordinator for Flatbush Shomrim, told Hamodia.