NEW YORK, NY – A 17-year-old boy is fighting for his life in a coma after being savagely beaten outside Madison Square Garden following the Knicks’ Game 4 NBA Finals victory.
Social Media Stunt Turns Violent
The brutal attack occurred around 11:45 p.m. Wednesday outside 235 West 35th Street. According to the NYPD, the altercation began when an online content creator and his group began interviewing crowd members, allegedly trying to provoke Knicks fans for social media engagement.
Cellphone footage reviewed by detectives shows a person with the content creator yelling “Spurs in 7” to anger the crowd. After a brief verbal dispute, a physical fight broke out between a group of Knicks fans and the content creator’s crew.
Victim Left in Critical Condition
The 17-year-old victim became involved in the chaos and was targeted by the group. Police stated the teenager was repeatedly kicked in the head and body.
The severity of the assault caused the teen to suffer a seizure on the street, and he subsequently fell into a coma. Emergency responders rushed him to Bellevue Hospital in critical condition, where doctors have since managed to stabilize him.
Police Hunt For Suspects
No arrests have been made so far. The NYPD has released surveillance images of one primary suspect and is actively searching for the others involved in the beating.
Authorities are urging anyone with information, cellphone footage, or tips regarding the identity of the attackers to contact the NYPD Crime Stoppers Hotline:
- English: 1-800-577-TIPS (8477)
- Spanish: 1-888-57-PISTA (74782)
