Police hunt for suspect in vicious punch caught on camera in New York

HELL'S KITCHEN, NY -- The NYPD is searching for a man who threw a vicious punch that was caught on video in Hell's Kitchen Tuesday evening.

The incident happened at the corner of West 55th Street and Ninth Avenue around 6:30 p.m. and landed the victim in the hospital.

The video, taken by a witness on their cellphone, shows the 49-year old victim falling to the ground after the punch and hitting his head on the pavement.

The suspect fled on foot.

He is described as a male white in his 30s, approximately 5-foot-10 and weighing 170 pounds, with curly blonde hair. He last seen wearing gray sneakers, a turquoise T-shirt and blue shorts.

The confrontation stemmed from an argument over the victim's dog, a white chihuahua named Peanut. Neighbors say it is the dog on the corner in the background of the cellphone video.

"We always pay attention to all the dogs in the neighborhood because we're always walking up and down the street. In fact I was outside at 6 p.m. yesterday so I'm kind of shocked that this happened and I didn't see anything," said Hell's Kitchen resident Sam Morris.

Authorities say the victim was walking with a male friend and Peanut when he crossed paths with the suspect, who stepped over the dog to go to the sidewalk.

The dog owner asked the suspect why he stepped over the dog, and then pushed or shoved him when he tried to walk away. The suspect responded to the shove by punching the victim with his closed right fist.

The victim sustained swelling on the brain, a contusion and a skull fracture when his head hit the pavement. He is in stable condition at New York Hospital/Cornell Medical Center.

The two men were apparently strangers before the altercation.

Anyone with information in regards to this assault is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).