A soccer game in New York's Bronx turned violent after a verbal dispute between two players escalated into a slashing, according to police. The incident happened at about 7:35pm on 13 July in St Mary's Park, near Trinity Avenue and East 147th Street in the Mott Haven neighbourhood, the NYPD said.
The two men had been playing football when an argument broke out. Police said one player then attacked the other, slashing him in the head before fleeing the area.
Emergency medical workers took the injured man to NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln. He was listed in stable condition. The NYPD said the victim did not know the name of the man who attacked him.
Police released surveillance footage and a description of the suspect on Sunday as investigators appealed to the public for information.
Police Seek Suspect After Attack
The suspect is believed to be between 18 and 22 years old. Police described him as having a medium complexion, long black hair and brown eyes.
He was last seen wearing an orange shirt, brown shorts and gold-coloured shoes.
Surveillance footage reportedly shows the suspect running away from the area shortly after the attack.
No motive beyond the reported argument has been established publicly, and police have not said what type of weapon was allegedly used.
The NYPD is asking anyone who witnessed the incident or recognises the suspect to contact its Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). Spanish-language callers can use 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
Tips can also be submitted through the NYPD Crime Stoppers website, with police saying all information will be kept confidential.
The investigation remains ongoing, and there had been no publicly reported arrest in connection with the attack at the time of reporting.
Similar New York Slashing Incidents
The Bronx assault comes amid several separate reports of people being slashed during confrontations in New York this year.
In April, a 26-year-old man was allegedly slashed across the face during an argument with another passenger aboard a southbound No. 4 train near 14th Street-Union Square. Police said the victim was taken to Bellevue Hospital, while the suspect remained at large.
Another case occurred in February, when a 13-year-old boy was slashed in the face following an argument in Coney Island. Police said the boy was taken to Coney Island Hospital and was in stable condition.
There was also a strikingly similar incident in January involving a 28-year-old man on a Manhattan No. 6 train. Police said an argument began after the victim was seen kissing his transgender partner, with the suspect allegedly shouting anti-gay slurs before the confrontation turned physical. The victim suffered a deep facial laceration and was treated at Bellevue Hospital.
More recently, a 31-year-old man was reportedly slashed multiple times in the face during an argument on the Lower East Side on 20 August. Police said the attacker fled on foot and the victim was taken to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition.
While those incidents share similarities, there is no indication from police that they are connected to the St Mary's Park attack.
The NYPD continues to investigate the Bronx incident and is seeking information that could help identify the suspect.
