Reports: Bitterness Persists Between Times Square Buskers After Stabbing
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The bad blood apparently has not dissipated between two well-known panhandlers in Times Square, who got into a fight that ended with one of them being stabbed, according to published reports.
Dwight Laird, 30 – known in Times Square as "Weed Head" -- was arrested a week ago after he allegedly stabbed rival Wayne Semancik, 56 -- known as "Beer Man" -- with a pen five times, the New York Post reported. Semancik was wounded in the head and chest, according to published reports.
Laird to the newspaper the brawl on the night of Friday, June 21, erupted after Semancik ordered him off "his block" near 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue, then hit Laird for reasons Laird could not explain.
Laird allegedly stabbed Semancik afterward, the paper reported. Laird told the paper that while he was not proud of his actions, Semancik "deserves what he got" and there would be no apology. He was charged with second-degree assault, the paper reported.
But Semancik has claimed in other published reports that Laird spat in his face first, and he had decided that he'd had it with Laird and was going to hit him. Semancik claimed to the New York Times that Laird had previously hurled a frozen bottle of water at one of his friends' heads.
As shown in a YouTube video and a Gothamist photo, Laird is known for going around with a cardboard box on his head showing marijuana plants and reading, "Weed Head," and "Weed, All Day, All Night." He also holds a sign reading, "Please Help, I need money for weed."
Semancik carries a sign asking for "spare change for pot, pizza and beer," according to the Times report.
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