NYPD: 89-Year-Old Woman Slapped In Face, Set On Fire In Brooklyn
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Police are looking for two men accused of slapping an 89-year-old woman and setting her shirt on fire.
It happened around 6:45 p.m. on July 14 near 16th Avenue and 77th Street in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.
Surveillance video shows two unidentified men, with their heads and faces covered, walking in the area, according to police.
Police said the suspects approached the victim and slapped her in the face. When she moved away, they allegedly lit her shirt on fire with a match or lighter, then ran away.
Fortunately, the woman did not suffer any serious injuries and did not go to the hospital, police said.
CBS2's Natalie Duddridge spoke with a neighbor who apparently witnessed the attack.
"I just saw these two kids push her for nothing. She was looking in the garden," Maria Castellano said. "No reason at all. I mean, she didn't do nothing. Why are you pushing the poor woman?"
Castellano said she went to check on her elderly neighbor, but learned she didn't speak much English.
Police said there seemed to be no interaction leading up to the assault and it did not appear to be an attempted robbery.
"I don't know why anyone would ever do that. I feel so bad for her. I hope she's OK," one person told CBS2.
"Some people that don't have brains in their head take it out on the wrong people," said another.
Police said they don't know what the motive was.
The two suspects were last seen walking along 16th Ave. Authorities are hoping someone recognizes the men or has a tip that leads to an arrest.
Anyone with information about the attack is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.