Horrendous moment knife-wielding man repeatedly slashes Queens hotel worker who handed him a bottle of water
Police in New York City are hunting for a knife-wielding suspect who was caught on video repeatedly slashing a worker at a Queens hotel early Sunday morning.
According to the NYPD, the violent assault took place at 6.15am at the La Quinta Inn at 37-18 Queens Boulevard in the Long Island City neighborhood.
An unidentified man had been loitering in the hotel lobby when a 33-year-old employee asked him to leave.
Security footage from the lobby of La Quinta Inn on Queens Boulevard in Queens shows a worker hand a bottle of water to a man who had been loitering in the lobby
Moments later, the man pulls out a knife and lunges at the hotel employee
The suspect, dressed in a black sweatshirt, slashes at the victim's hands and ear
A knife is seen in the attacker's right hand as he pursues the victim into a corner
The armed man overpowers the victim and pins him to a wall during the violent struggle
La Quinta Inn is located at 37-18 Queens Boulevard in the Long Island City neighborhood
The suspect then approached the worker and asked him for a bottle of water, according to investigators.
Security video from the lobby shows the hotel worker step out from behind the front desk and hand a bottle of water to the man.
The pair exchange some words before the suspect pulls out a knife and lunges at the employee.
The attacker pursues the victim into a corner and a violent struggle ensues, during which the man with the knife overpowers the victim, pins him down and slashes him in the hands and left ear.
The injured hotel employee ultimately manages to escape the attacker and seek refuge in the enclosed reception area, which has a door on the side.
The victim leans against the door to prevent the suspect from entering, and after a few moments the assailant leaves.
The injured victim retreats behind the door of the enclosed reception area, leaving his attacker on the outside
Police are now looking for the unnamed suspect who is wanted in connection to the attack
Video shows the unidentified suspect, dressed in a black sweatshirt, light-colored sweatpants and black sneakers, slowly walk out of the hotel.
The victim was transported in stable condition to New York Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst to be treated for his injuries.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).