Apr 27, 2025
Teen CRITICALLY Injured – SKILLED Attack!
A 14-year-old boy with a history of arrests was stabbed in the face near a Times Square migrant shelter, leaving him critically injured as police hunt for two masked teen suspects who fled the scene.
At a Glance
- A 14-year-old boy was stabbed above his left eye near the ROW NYC Hotel, a migrant shelter in Times Square
- The victim, who has four prior juvenile arrests including grand larceny and robbery, was initially in critical condition but has stabilized at Bellevue Hospital
- The stabbing occurred Wednesday evening around 7:08 p.m. at West 44th Street and Eighth Avenue
- Two teenage suspects wearing ski masks and hoodies fled the scene and remain at large
- The motive for the attack remains unknown as police continue their investigation
Violent Attack Near Times Square Shelter
A 14-year-old boy became the victim of a brutal stabbing Wednesday evening in the heart of Manhattan, just steps away from the controversial ROW NYC Hotel that has served as a migrant shelter for nearly three years. The attack occurred shortly after 7 p.m. at the corner of West 44th Street and Eighth Avenue, when the teen was stabbed above his left eye. First responders rushed the critically injured boy to Bellevue Hospital, where medical staff worked to stabilize his condition.
“The teen was knifed above his left eye just after 7 p.m. at the corner of West 44th Street and Eighth Avenue — down the block from the 1,331-room ROW NYC Hotel, which has housed migrants for nearly three years, cops said.” sources report.
According to police sources, the victim was reportedly living at the shelter. By Thursday morning, hospital staff had managed to stabilize the boy’s condition, though he had initially been listed as critical. The attack adds to growing concerns about safety in the Times Square area, which has seen numerous incidents in recent months as the neighborhood grapples with the impacts of the migrant crisis and ongoing public safety challenges.
Victim’s Criminal History
Law enforcement officials revealed that the stabbing victim, despite his young age, already has a significant criminal record. The 14-year-old has accumulated four prior juvenile arrests, including three for grand larceny and one for robbery. The robbery case reportedly involved threatening a man with belts and stealing his chain at a subway station, highlighting the teen’s prior involvement in violent crime before becoming a victim himself.
“Medics rushed him to Bellevue Hospital, where he was initially listed in critical condition, but had stabilized by Thursday morning, police said.” sources report.
The boy’s past brushes with the law raise questions about juvenile crime and the effectiveness of the city’s juvenile justice system. While the details of how these previous cases were adjudicated have not been made public, the pattern of repeat offenses suggests potential failures in intervention and rehabilitation efforts for young offenders. Now, as a victim of a violent crime himself, the case highlights the complex cycle of youth violence plaguing parts of New York City.
Ongoing Investigation
Police are actively searching for two teenage suspects who were seen fleeing the scene immediately after the stabbing. Both were described as wearing ski masks and hoodies, making identification challenging. Authorities have not yet determined a motive for the attack, though the investigation is exploring whether it might be related to the victim’s prior criminal activities or possible gang connections.
The NYPD is urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward. Tips can be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers via phone, text, or their mobile app. As the investigation continues, law enforcement is reviewing surveillance footage from the area and interviewing potential witnesses to piece together the events leading up to the stabbing. The attack occurred in a heavily trafficked tourist area, raising additional concerns about public safety in one of Manhattan’s most visited neighborhoods.
