Two Arrested After Dispute Leads to Slashing near Bryant Park

Two teens were arrested and charged for a Sunday afternoon stabbing and slashing of another teen in Bryant Park.

The victim, a 19-year-old male, had been stabbed twice in the back and slashed in the torso when NYPD officers arrived at the scene Aug. 9 around 2:40 p.m. The broad daylight incident, which took place near Bryant Park on 42nd St. between 5th and 6th Ave., was the result of a dispute between three teenagers, according to information provided to officers at the scene. The victim was transported to NYC Health+Hospitals/Bellevue in stable condition.

NYPD officials within the Midtown South Precinct arrested and charged two teens later that afternoon, at 3:21 p.m., in relation to the incident, NYPD reported to Chelsea News.

The first, a 17-year-old male, was charged with gang assault, assault, criminal possession of a weapon, and disorderly conduct. The second teen has been identified as 18-year-old Maikel PenzoCruz of Patterson, NJ. PenzoCruz was charged with gang assault, two counts of assault, and two counts of disorderly conduct, police said.

The altercation took place during the annual NYC Dominican Day parade, which ran near Bryant park along 6th Ave. from 37th to 55th St.

While the teens involved with the assault have been arrested, the cause of dispute between the teens remains unclear. The teens had yet to be arraigned by press time.