In Midtown Manhattan, near the renowned Macy’s of Herald Square, an incident of violence occurred within a Target store on West 34th Street close to 6th Avenue. A 33-year-old unidentified man was stabbed in the stomach yesterday afternoon.
“The crime occurred shortly before 2 p.m. on Monday,” informed the New York City Police Department. Following the incident, the victim was swiftly transported to Bellevue Hospital. As per CBS News, he remains in serious yet stable condition.
The assailant believed to be in his 30s, was last seen wearing a gray shirt, a black hat, and a backpack. The authorities have stated that the motive behind the attack remains unclear. Currently, there have been no arrests in connection to the incident.
The NYPD urges anyone with relevant information to reach out by calling 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) for English speakers and 1-888-57-PISTA (74782) for Spanish speakers. Tips can also be submitted via crimestoppers.nypdonline.org or by texting 274637 (CRIMES), followed by TIP577. The police assure that all communications will be kept strictly confidential.
A Pattern of Violence
This isn’t the first time Midtown has witnessed such brutality. In July, not far from the recent incident, a man with a significant criminal record for theft was fatally stabbed during a confrontation with a security employee at a CVS store in Times Square, a major tourist attraction in New York.
Moreover, the city has seen a concerning rise in retail thefts. According to a report by the Collective Action to Protect Our Stores (CAPS-NY) in May, retail thefts in New York City surged by an alarming 81% during the first quarter of 2023. Violent attacks often accompanied these thefts on store employees and owners. CAPS-NY, representing over 5,000 establishments, including supermarkets and bodegas, has urged state lawmakers to enact stronger anti-theft legislation. Among their demands is the imprisonment of thieves who assault workers.