Police: 9-Year-Old Boy Stabbed Walking To School On Staten Island
*WARNING: Some may find the video above of the attack graphic.*
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Someone walked up behind a 9-year-old Staten Island boy and stabbed him the neck, arm and back Friday morning, police said.
The incident took place at around 8:15 a.m. on Maple Parkway in Mariners Harbor.
The boy, identified as Jermaine Culver, was on his way to school when he was attacked, police said.
The attack occurred near Public School 44.
As CBS2's Alice Gainer reported, a neighbor caught the incident on surveillance video.
In video, the boy is seen walking along Union while a man follows behind him for some time. The man then gets close behind the boy and attacks him.
As CBS2's Matt Kozar reported, Jermaine somehow managed to wriggle free.
The boy then turns around and ran back home, alerting his brothers of the attack.
"He came in saying he'd been hit in his head. He thought he was punched in his head," brother Malik Williams said.
"We didn't find out that he got stabbed in his arm and his head until we got to the hospital," brother Maurice Eddy added.
Someone then called 911 and the boy was rushed to Richmond Medical Center, where he was in stable condition.
Culver's mother said Jermaine was still sick and shaken up Friday night from the attack. He has stitches in his arm and neck and has a head injury.
Police are not sure what he was stabbed with, but describe it as a sharp object.
Doctors think his attacker may have used a blade.
"I'm thankful for that coat because it saved him. If it wasn't for that coat, I wouldn't have my little brother right now," Williams said.
It was unclear how long the attacker trailed the 9-year-old, but his brother said he won't be walking to school alone again.
"He will be walked to school and picked up everyday," Shawn Williams said.
Police are investigating the incident. It's not known if the boy knew his attacker.
The victim described his attacker as a black male in a blue, hooded sweatshirt.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS. You can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or texting tips to 274637(CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
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