New York’s worsening crime crisis saw a volunteer for mayoral election favorite Eric Adam’s campaign stabbed with an ice pick while campaigning in the Bronx.
The 42-year-old man, who has not been named, ended up with a punctured lung as a result of the attack having been stabbed four times just before 4pm on Sunday, in an assault that was caught on camera.
The volunteer could be seen shaking hands with a voter when the suspect in a white T-shirt suddenly pounced and began to stab the man from behind.
That worker fell to the ground while the suspect continued their frenzied attack.
Officers have now released images of the suspects that police are looking to track down.
Police say the man in the white tank top stabbed the victim repeatedly with an ice pick, while the accomplice is seen wearing a sweatshirt that says ‘privileged.’
A 42-year-old volunteer for Eric Adams, pictured, was stabbed multiple times in the Bronx on Sunday afternoon
Officers have now released images of the suspects that police are looking to track down
Police say the man in the white tank top stabbed the victim repeatedly with an ice pick, while the accomplice is seen wearing a sweatshirt that says ‘privileged’
Adams described the worker as ‘one of our most committed volunteers’ had been rushed to the hospital.
‘We had a campaign volunteer, he was stabbed multiple times by an ice pick. That is one of the most dangerous weapons you can use with a stabbing. He went into surgery. We believe he has stabilized,’ Adams, who is the current mayoral front runner said.
‘This violence must stop,’ Adam’s said in a tweet.
‘We don’t know what it’s connected to,’ he said. ‘We have been dealing with some issues that we’re going to see if it’s connected with that, but at this time we’re not sure. I’m going to stop to see if it’s possible to visit him. He was a volunteer that came out every day. The video shows that he was out giving out literature for the campaign, but he was stabbed multiple times.’
The victim was canvassing through the neighborhood when two men approached and one of them stabbed the volunteer. Adam’s tweeted a picture of the scene
Several of the New York City Democratic mayoral candidates tweeted their shock and support for the victim who had been stabbed
Video as seen by the New York Post shows the victim being approached by two people before being stabbed by one of them.
The weapons used, an ice pick and a knife were found at the scene.
When detectives questioned the victim, who has himself been arrested almost 50 times, he refused to answer questions.
Mayoral rival Maya Wiley also expressed her condolences Sunday as did several other Democratic mayoral primary candidates — including Kathryn Garica and Andrew Yang.
‘Horrible news. My thoughts are with your volunteer, their family, and your entire team, Eric,’ Yang tweeted.
‘This is horrifying news. My heart goes out to this volunteer and his loved ones. Elyse and I wish a speedy recovery,’ wrote Scott Stringer.
‘Pained to hear this. Sending love to his family and thinking of the team and volunteers,’ said Kathryn Garcia in a Twitter message.
‘My thoughts are with him and his family and my heart hurts for Team Adams today. New Yorkers shouldn’t have to fear walking down the street,’ Wiley tweeted.
‘So awful. Hoping he comes out of this okay. Thinking of his family and your team,’ added Brad Lander.
‘This is abhorrent. My thoughts are with this volunteer, his family, and all of Team Adams. Everyone over at Team Donovan is wishing for his speedy recovery,’ said Shaun Donovan.
Statistics show shooting crimes have been up this year city-wide compared to last year
Crimes have been rising throughout New York City, according to the NYPD
The latest brazen daylight attack came days after a violent shooting on a sidewalk in the Bronx on Thursday that narrowly missed killing two young children.
Adams had been in the borough on Saturday to speak out against Thursday’s attack and the city’s spike in shootings.
The incident was the latest in nearly 150 shootings across the city this month and – where shootings have skyrocketed since the pandemic gripped the country.
According to the NYPD, the city reported 202 homicides this year through Friday — a 14% increase from 2020. The number of shootings jumped 57% so far in 2021, with 661 reported compared to 421 over the same period last year.
Adams is the current frontrunner in the Democrat field ahead of Tuesday’s mayoral primary, which is likely to decide the next mayor of New York City.
Anyone with information regarding the suspects whereabouts can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS.
Shocking surveillance footage captured the moment two young children were trampled by a man as he tried to escape from a shooter who fired nearly a dozen bullets in the middle of a Bronx street and pointed his gun at the terrified kids
Then the gunman comes back for a closer shot and fires at the man with the two kids inches away from the victim
The leading NYC mayor candidates
Eric Adams
Eric Adams – Democrat
Former cop, current Brooklyn Borough President
Promises: Reinstate crime-unit in NYPD, free cops up from paperwork and let them get back on the streets, appoint female NYPD Commissioner
Endorsed by: George Floyd’s brother Terrence
Andrew Yang
Andrew Yang – Democrat
Businessman and one-time failed Presidential hopeful.
Promises: $1bn COVID relief cash program, bring back tourism
Endorsed by: Elon Musk endorsed him for President
Maya Wiley
Maya Wiley – Democrat
Lawyer, professor, civil rights activist, former de Blasio advisor
Promises: Defund the NYPD, launch city-wide affordable healthcare plan in New York City, build more affordable housing and more schools
Endorsed by: AOC
Kathryn Garcia
Kathryn Garcia – Democrat
Former Sanitation Commissioner
Promises: Raise age of police recruitment from 21 to 25, make NYC rely fully on renewable energy
Endorsed by: The New York Times
Curtis Sliwa
Curtis Sliwa – Republican
Founder of the vigilante group The Guardian Angels
Promises: Reinstate the scrapped anti-crime unit in the NYPD.
He has been independent for most of his life but registered Republican in February.
Fernando Mateo
Fernando Mateo – Republican
Mateo is a small business owner, President of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers and a spokesperson for the United Bodegas of America
Mateo founded the Toys for Guns program in 1993 that gave out toys at Christmas for guns that were handed in to try to get them off the streets.
Promises: Add another 20,000 cops to the 35,000 already in the NYPD