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 identified as Isaiah Santiago, was charged with two counts of gang assault, four counts of assault, criminal possession of a weapon, and harassment. The second teen has been identified as 18-year-old Maikel PenzoCruz of Patterson, NJ. PenzoCruz was charged with two counts of gang assault, four counts of assault, harassment, and criminal possession of a weapon, according to the DA’s office.

The two teens have been released without bail, on the judge’s recognizance. According to arraignments obtained by Straus News, there were three total perpetrators involved in the stabbing/slashing of the victim, with the third still at large. All three perpetrators struck the victim in the head and body, first with their fists, before the unapprehended male then stabbed the victim. According to the DA’s office, the victim had required emergency surgery to correct a collapsed lung caused from the incident.

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 and charged, the cause of dispute between the teens remains unclear.