EAST VILLAGE, Manhattan (PIX11) – A panhandler attacked a customer at a restaurant in New York City on Friday after the victim refused to give him cash, police said.
The incident happened at Mee Noodle Shop and Grill at 223 First Ave. in Manhattan's East Village around 2:30 p.m., according to the NYPD.
The panhandler walked into the restaurant and started asking people for money, police said. He approached a 60-year-old customer, but when the customer refused to give him cash, the panhandler allegedly pulled out a metal pipe and bashed the customer over his head, according to police.
The victim suffered a cut to his head and was taken to a hospital, police said. The panhandler fled and hasn't been arrested.
Some customers and employees of the noodle shop said they hadn't seen the panhandler before.
Detectives are investigating whether the panhandler is the same person who also attacked a woman nearby with a metal pipe about a month ago after she refused to give him money, sources told PIX11 News.
Police are looking for surveillance video to help identify the suspect.
Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
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