A Staten Island man has been arrested in connection with a violent, unprovoked attack on an 81-year-old woman on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The incident, which took place on September 13, involved Hansel Esparragoza, 37, who was charged with felony assault after knocking the elderly woman unconscious with a sucker punch.
The victim, Geula Freeman, was walking her son’s dog near West 66th Street and Amsterdam Avenue when the attack occurred. Security footage revealed that Esparragoza initially walked past Freeman but then turned back and randomly struck her in the face. The impact knocked Freeman to the ground, rendering her unconscious. She was taken to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital for treatment of facial injuries and a concussion.
Esparragoza, who has a history of 21 prior arrests, including charges for petit larceny and acting in a manner injurious to a child, was apprehended on Thursday. When police arrested him at the 20th Precinct, he refused to answer questions about the assault. The attack was caught on camera and has sparked outrage due to its random nature and the elderly victim’s vulnerability.
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Freeman has lived in the Upper West Side since 2007 and is well-known in the area. After the attack, she has become more cautious while navigating the streets, noting, “It was such a surprise because it was described to me how it happened that I would not have been able to do anything.” She emphasized her desire for her attacker to receive help.
For more details on the investigation, visit AOL News.