98-year-old man brutally beaten in his Brooklyn apartment building amid argument; police on hunt for female culprit



A 98-year-old was brutally beaten inside his Brooklyn apartment building amid an argument earlier this week — and police said they're searching for the female culprit.

Investigators said the female responsible for the attack punched, kicked, and struck the elderly victim with a broomstick and metal chair inside his apartment building in Prospect Lefferts Gardens, News 12 Brooklyn reported.

The beating is yet another in a stretch of attacks involving older Brooklyn residents.

The attack took place around 4 p.m. Thursday, the station said.

Investigators released video showing the woman appearing to drop off flyers at a building, News 12 Brooklyn reported, adding that investigators said the woman on the video is the person they're trying to identify.

Investigators told the station that the 98-year-old man had just entered the apartment building when he got into an argument with the female.

Then the verbal spat reportedly became violent, the station added.

RELATED: Video: Female bully towers over and beats up elderly woman on Florida bus. Victim is left 'battered and bruised': Sheriff

Investigators told News 12 Brooklyn that the woman repeatedly punched and kicked the elderly man — and then she began hitting him with a broomstick and a metal chair.

She then ran from the building and headed east on Maple Street, the station said.

Despite the brutal beatdown, the victim suffered only minor injuries and was treated at the scene, News 12 Brooklyn reported.

New York City police are looking for the suspect, CBS News added.

The beating is yet another in a stretch of attacks involving older Brooklyn residents, News 12 Brooklyn said, adding that a 72-year-old man was punched multiple times in the face in Brownsville last week — and just days later, an 83-year-old woman was slashed in the head while walking to church.

No arrests have been announced in this latest case, News 12 Brooklyn said, adding that those who recognize the woman seen in the video are asked to contact Crime Stoppers.

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Knife-wielding ex-con gets tables turned on him lethally — courtesy of victim he robbed, fought, bit, and stabbed: Report



A knife-wielding ex-con got a deadly taste of his own medicine late last week courtesy of the victim he robbed, fought, bit, and stabbed in Brooklyn, the New York Daily News reported.

Dan Costume, 34 — who was released from prison in 2024 — entered a stranger's apartment in Flatbush through an unlocked door late Friday night, law enforcement sources and the victim told the paper.

'He was acting in self-defense.'

The 45-year-old tenant spoke to the Daily News in Spanish, telling the paper that he had just come home from playing soccer. But the tenant's wife had departed their apartment on Avenue D near East 31st Street to run an errand — and left the door unlocked, the Daily News said.

When the tenant emerged from the bathroom, he caught Costume stealing two cell phones, a laptop, and other belongings, the tenant told the paper.

“He was in shock that there was a random person in his house,” a relative of the tenant told the Daily News in English as she listened to the tenant's account in Spanish.

The tenant wrapped his arms around the intruder from behind to try to get him to drop the stolen goods, the relative told the paper.

“They started battling between each other,” the relative added to the Daily News.

Costume bit the tenant’s hands and cheek, then pulled out a knife from his pocket and stabbed the tenant in the back of the neck, the tenant told the paper.

Then the victim reportedly turned the tables on the robber.

Sources told the Daily News that the tenant was able to disarm Costume and use the robber's own knife to stab Costume in his thigh and lower back.

The tenant then shoved Costume out of the apartment and into the hallway, the paper said, adding that the burglar fled down a stairwell and out of the building, dripping blood as he dropped the stolen property.

Costume collapsed outside the building, the Daily News said, and medics rushed him to Kings County Hospital where he died.

The tenant was treated at the same hospital and released, the paper added.

RELATED: Axe-wielding thug allegedly threatens Florida car-wash employees — then 1 victim violently turns the tables on him

Kyle Mazza/Anadolu/Getty Images

A bruise and teeth marks were still visible on the tenant’s cheek days later, the Daily News reported, adding that the victim needed medical staples to close two gashes in his neck and on the back of his head.

“He was acting in self-defense,” the tenant's relative told the paper. “Everything happened so fast.”

The Daily News, citing sources, said prosecutors decided not to charge the tenant after reviewing the case because he acted in self-defense.

Costume’s father and sister told the paper they haven’t seen much of him since he left home at age 18, noting that he was in and out of the criminal justice system.

Costume's family members added to the Daily News that police had come looking for him several times before they knocked on their door Saturday to notify them of his death.

Costume was conditionally released from prison on parole in October 2024 after serving a one-and-a-half to three-year sentence for a Brooklyn attempted burglary conviction, the paper said, citing public records.

The tenant who killed Costume viewed surveillance video showing Costume getting into the apartment building through a back door near where garbage is kept, the Daily News reported.

The tenant also is in "a lot of pain," a relative told the paper, as he recovers from the wounds he suffered during the fight with Costume.

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Naked man emerges from river, attacks homeowner who approached him to see if he needed help — but homeowner is armed



A naked man emerged from the Biloxi River in Mississippi last weekend and physically attacked a homeowner who approached the man to see if he needed help, police told WLOX-TV.

But the homeowner shot the man several times after the attack, the station said.

'How awful for everyone involved.'

The incident began around 8 p.m. Saturday when the Biloxi Police Department got a report of a naked man coming out of the Biloxi River and walking up to homes on Woolmarket Lake Road, WLOX said.

Officials said one of the homeowners — who wasn’t in his residence at the time — saw the man on his doorbell camera and called his next-door neighbor, the station said.

The neighbor walked to the home to see if the man needed help, but the man attacked the neighbor, police told WLOX.

With that, the neighbor shot the man multiple times, the station said.

The man got the gun away from the neighbor and re-entered the river, officials told WLOX.

A search and rescue team was called, and the man was found dead in the river around 2 a.m. Sunday, the station said.

RELATED: Home invasion suspect comes face-to-face with gun-toting homeowner — who is more than ready for him

Harrison County Coroner Brian Switzer identified the man as 31-year-old Peter Virden III of Gulfport, WLOX reported.

Switzer said Virden was found dead in the river with multiple gunshot wounds, the station added.

The neighbor suffered facial cuts and bruises from the attack but was not severely injured, police told WLOX.

The station said officials reviewed video from the home’s security system, which recorded the whole incident.

A number of commenters let their thoughts be known under WLOX's Facebook post about the incident. The following are a few of them:

  • "How awful for everyone involved," one commenter wrote.
  • "I feel for the neighborhood. How traumatic for him," another user said. "Just going about your day one minute then having to [shoot] someone to defend yourself."
  • "So sad," another commenter shared. "Prayers for everyone involved in this. Heartbreaking."
  • "Prayers to the brave neighbor [who] not only checked on his neighbor’s property when called but also had to defend himself," another user said. "He was totally justified. Please try to tell me if a naked man comes to my porch (AND ATTACKS me) that I’m not justified."

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Teen thugs on e-bikes allegedly gang up on man, kick and stomp him, hit him in face with glass bottle — but just 1 arrested



A large group of teenagers on e-bikes allegedly ganged up on a man who was riding a scooter with his wife on the boardwalk in Huntington Beach, California, over the weekend — and kicked and stomped him and hit him in the face with a glass bottle, KTLA-TV reported.

The Huntington Beach Police Department confirmed to KTLA that a report was taken in connection with the incident, which occurred around 8 p.m. Saturday in the area of 103 Pacific Coast Highway.

'Come here on Friday night, on Saturday night. ... It's chaos; it's terror.'

Sam El-Said — a business owner — told the station he and his wife were riding home when he noticed a few hundred teens, many of them with e-bikes, gathered on the beach, the boardwalk, and a nearby grassy area.

El-Said told KTLA he slowed down to navigate through the crowd, when someone threw a glass bottle that hit him in the face; he added to the station that bottle either shattered on impact or was already broken, and it left him with minor injuries.

After he stopped and got off his scooter to see what happened, El-Said told KTLA someone knocked him to the ground from behind, after which as many as six teens kicked and stomped him while he was down.

Cellphone video caught the final moments of the alleged attack, and it shows one teen dressed in a dark Playboy hoodie being pulled away from the victim, who was on his hands and knees in the sand.

Some teens are heard hooting and laughing on video during the aftermath of the attack.

KTLA said that when El-Said rose to his feet, blood was running down his face, red marks were visible near his left temple and cheekbone, and blood also was on the fingers of his left hand.

RELATED: Mom of teen thug arrested after body-slamming, head-stomping much smaller girl says he's a 'humble,' 'quiet' Christian

Police told the station that El-Said was able to detain one of the teens involved, and that teen was arrested and cited for misdemeanor battery.

Authorities told KTLA that the victim declined medical treatment at the scene.

El-Said, who also suffered a black eye, noted to the station that he and his wife moved to Huntington Beach three years ago for a better quality of life — and the incident demonstrates to him that law enforcement needs to take a stronger stance against such crime.

"Come here on Friday night, on Saturday night, to this very spot and see what this looks like," he told KTLA. "It's chaos; it's terror. If nothing happens and things don't change, we're going to keep seeing incidents like what happened to me, but far worse."

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Elderly man dies after suspect — who was in police custody just hours earlier — shoves him down subway steps: NYPD



An elderly man has died after the suspect in his killing — who was in police custody just hours earlier — shoved him down subway entrance steps in New York City on Thursday night, police told WCBS-TV.

The attack against the 76-year-old man occurred just before 9:30 p.m. in the city's Chelsea neighborhood at West 18th Street and 7th Avenue, the station said.

'Disgusting.'

Responding officers found Ross Falzone on the subway stairs with head injuries, WCBS said, adding that he was rushed to Bellevue Hospital in critical condition and later died.

The station said police believe they know who carried out the crime since the suspect was taken into custody earlier Thursday.

Police told WCBS that officers around 3:30 p.m. Thursday encountered the suspect behaving erratically outside the NYPD's 17th Precinct.

The male was taken into custody, the station said, and officers brought him to Bellevue Hospital. WCBS said he was taken to the psychiatric emergency room for evaluation — and released an hour later.

RELATED: Thug who's been deported 4 times faces upgraded charges after elderly man he's accused of shoving onto NYC subway tracks dies

Surveillance video around 9:30 p.m. Thursday recorded Falzone approaching the subway — and the same male who had been taken into custody earlier in the day was seen walking quickly behind him and then shoving the elderly victim down the steps, police told WCBS.

Falzone struck his head about halfway down the steps, the station added.

Emergency responders were called, WCBS said, adding that Falzone was rushed to Bellevue Hospital but died just before 3 a.m. Friday.

Police are searching for the suspect, the station said, adding that the NYPD hasn't released his name or description.

Observers commenting under the WCBS video report about the elderly man's death are beyond done. Some examples:

  • "This is what you vote for in blue city NY," one commenter said.
  • "Disgusting," another user stated.
  • "There will be no justice," another commenter lamented.
  • "The powers that be do this because they're not scared of being dragged out and held accountable," another user declared.

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Video: Thug with 'no heart' spits on woman in Philly store, repeatedly punches her in face, knocks her to the floor



Philadelphia police said a male confronted a woman in a store last month, spit on her, physically attacked her, and caused injuries to her — and the brutal beatdown was recorded on surveillance video.

Police said the assault took place around 11 p.m. April 22 in the 4000 block of Market Street in the University City neighborhood.

'He has no heart, no heart.'

Police said after the confrontation, the argument between the two escalated, and the male spit on the woman and repeatedly punched her in the face before knocking her to the floor of the store.

Police said the woman suffered several injuries due to the attack.

The male left the store in an unknown direction, police said.

RELATED: Gang of juvenile males chase college student into dorm, physically attack victim, go on rampage. It all happens around 3 a.m.

"Oh no, my God, oh, I'm so hurt to see it," Linda Lofton of West Philadelphia said in an interview with WXTF-TV. "He has no heart, no heart, and everyone has a mother [or a] sister [or an] aunt. ... Oh, it's horrible."

Rasheedah of South Philadelphia added to the station, "Why these men gotta attack women? There's other ways to resolve conflict. It's just so sad to see."

Police added to WXTF that the victim has been connected with victim assistance and advocacy services.

"I'm quite sure she's traumatized by what happened, so hopefully she'll get the help that she needs," Rasheedah added to the station.

Police said if you see the suspect, do not approach — instead call 911 immediately. To submit a tip via telephone, dial 215-686-TIPS (8477). Police said community members can use this electronic form to submit tips anonymously and that all tips will be confidential.

Police also said those with any information about this crime or suspect can contact the Southwest Detective Division at 215-686-3183/3184.

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Thugs ages 11 to 14 gang up on, mercilessly beat up victim on sidewalk — and adults are done: 'I'm very fearful for my life'



A gang of youths ages 11 to 14 were caught on cellphone video last week mercilessly pummeling a lone victim on a street corner in Towson, Maryland.

Nine juveniles have been identified, and second-degree assault charges are pending against five of them after Baltimore County police officers responded to the incident, WBFF-TV reported.

'You can see the kids are laughing. ... They just don't care, because no one is going to hold them accountable.'

Police said officers were called around 3:40 p.m. April 20 to the unit block of Lambourne Road for a “physical disturbance," the station reported.

Police said it's believed the incident stems from a verbal altercation in school and that the juveniles involved — who range in age from 11 to 14 — know each other, WBFF said.

Two juveniles under the age of 13 will not be charged, police told the station, which added that none of the juveniles are in custody as officers are trying to notify their parents.

The incident drew attention after video recorded outside the Towson Promenade appeared to show a group of juveniles surrounding and beating one victim. You can view unredacted video of the broad-daylight beatdown here, which shows a gang of youths repeatedly punching, kicking, and stomping the victim.

More from WBFF:

A second incident happened Tuesday involving some of the same students inside Dumbarton Middle School during a meeting with the School Resource Officer, police said. During the meeting, a student and their parent left the office and got involved in a physical fight with another student in a hallway. The parent was later trespassed from the school, authorities said.

Police are working with Baltimore County Public Schools, which is conducting its own administrative investigation.

RELATED: 14-year-old thug body-slams, head-stomps girl on Harlem street — reportedly after she wouldn't give him her phone number

The April 20 incident occurred across the street from Towson Diner, and owner Nick Kourtsounis told WBFF in a separate story he's frustrated by what he sees as ongoing juvenile violence in the area.

"This looks like nine on one, is what it looks like," Kourtsounis told the station while viewing video presumably showing the attack. "I don't see how that's just middle schoolers being middle schoolers. That is a learned behavior, and I don't know how you unlearn that, but something has to be done."

He added to WBFF, "Where's the accountability? That's what we want. We want accountability, we want action, and this stuff about, 'Oh, it's just kids being kids' — no, it's not."

Baltimore County resident Mary Shanahan told the station, "I'm very fearful for my life because you never know what they have in their backpacks, what they have in their pockets, what they're going to say to you."

A retired Baltimore County Police sergeant told WBFF in another story that the youths involved simply don't care about consequences.

"You can see the kids are laughing. They're looking at the camera, they're looking around, but they're committing the crime," Mickey Hoppert, who retired from the Baltimore County Police Department after 20 years of service as an officer, told the station. "They just don't care, because no one is going to hold them accountable. And unfortunately, somebody has to hold them accountable."

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'Dozens of bystanders' reportedly record video while 15-year-old boy is mercilessly beaten then fatally shot at playground



"Dozens of bystanders" reportedly were recording video while a 15-year-old boy was mercilessly beaten and then fatally shot at a New York City playground last week.

Former Mayor Eric Adams posted video on X showing Thursday's deadly altercation, and the New York Daily News reported that the clip shows "dozens of bystanders ... recording" while the beatdown took place.

'They treated it all as entertainment. He was already beat up. He was helpless, and they shot him.'

The Daily News added that the video shows at least three individuals repeatedly punching and kicking victim Jaden Pierre as he tries to protect himself amid the attack.

The paper said one of the attackers is seen grabbing Pierre's hoodie and throwing him to the ground. After Pierre gets back up, one of the attackers pulls a gun and pistol-whips Pierre, and gunfire rings out, the Daily News said, adding that Pierre collapses to the ground, and the crowd runs away.

The paper said Pierre suffered a gunshot wound to the chest.

The day after the fatal shooting, New York City Police posted images of an individual they said is wanted for the homicide of the 15-year-old victim.

On Tuesday, the NYPD said 18-year-old gang member Zahir Davis is the individual being sought in connection with the shooting at the Nautilus Playground inside Ray Wilkins Park in Queens, according the the Daily News.

However, police sources told the paper the shooter has connections to the Caribbean nation of Jamaica and may have fled there after the deadly altercation.

There are conflicting reports regarding why a crowd gathered at the playground that day. The Daily News said Pierre was attending a water-gun fight he helped organize over social media. WPIX-TV also said it was a water-gun fight. However, WABC-TV said the gathering was for a water-balloon fight.

The Daily News said an unidentified associate of Davis recognized Pierre from a previous brawl, after which Davis and the unidentified associate cornered Pierre against a fence, where they were caught on video beating the teen as dozens of bystanders stood by recording the attack.

Soon the shooting took place, the paper said, adding that police said forensic investigators will determine if the shooting was accidental.

"When you watch the video, he strikes him in the head with a gun, and as he comes down, the shot rings out," NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said, according to the paper.

Kenny said the man who incited Thursday's attack jumped Pierre in January, and Pierre's friends retaliated by beating that same man, the Daily News reported.

Kenny also noted that Davis is part of the BG4 crew — short for Blitz Gang 4 — which operates in southeast Queens, the paper said.

At a Monday evening vigil for Pierre, New York Attorney General Letitia James said detectives had identified the shooter and urged the suspect to surrender himself, the Daily News said.

RELATED: Blaze News original: 10 times bystanders failed to help victims of brutal violence — and often recorded video instead

"I want everyone to know that the police know who shot Jaden," James said as she stood with the victim's family and hundreds of mourners just steps from the scene of the crime, according to the paper.

The attorney general added, "I would urge this gentleman to turn himself in, to surrender as soon as possible, before the NYPD gets to you. They know who you are," the Daily News reported.

Gardy Pierre, the victim's father, added the following during the vigil, according to the above WCBS-TV video: "I know how tough he was. They knew, man. That was the only way to put him down. 'Cause they know he's gonna stand up tall on 10 toes every time, man."

The victim's older sister, 17-year-old Nellie Pierre, had harsh words for those recording video of the attack on her brother, telling the Daily News that "everyone there recording did nothing. They treated it all as entertainment. He was already beat up. He was helpless, and they shot him."

The paper, citing relatives, said Jaden attended ninth grade at Eagle Academy and was looking forward to starting a new job through the city's Summer Youth Employment Program.

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7 females, 2 males accused of ganging up on, beating up train passenger in Chicago



Seven females and two males are accused of physically attacking one train passenger in Chicago last week, police said.

Police called the crime an aggravated battery.

'If confronted by an assailant/offender, remain calm and never pursue. Press the emergency button and alert the transit attendant,' police said.

The incident took place just after 9:30 p.m. last Tuesday in the 600 block of South State Street aboard a train in the Chicago Loop neighborhood, police said.

Police provided photos of the suspects. (Note: One of the suspects is shown twice — in the bottom far-right photos of the composite image next to the headline.)

Police also provided the following descriptions of each suspect:

  • Black male wearing a black T-shirt with white lettering and denim shorts
  • Black male wearing a black long-sleeved shirt
  • Black female wearing a blue T-shirt and blue shorts
  • Black female with red hair wearing a white top
  • Black female wearing a purple sweater
  • Black female wearing a black flower-print sweater
  • Black female wearing a black zip-up sweater and black shorts
  • Black female wearing a black hooded sweater and black pants
  • Black female wearing a black T-shirt with white lettering and black pants

Police cautioned citizens to "be aware of your surroundings and remember your location, bus/train car number, route or train line, train car number, and direction of travel. If confronted by an assailant/offender, remain calm and never pursue. Press the emergency button and alert the transit attendant. Call 911 immediately, provide detailed description of location and assailant."

Police added that those with any information about this incident should contact Public Transportation Detectives at 312-745-4447 or submit anonymous tips at CPDTIP.com and use reference RD #JK189284.

Police said another transit-related aggravated battery took place just after 4 p.m. Friday — this time on a CTA Red Line platform in the 1200 block of North Clark Street.

RELATED: Gang of juvenile males chase college student into dorm, physically attack victim, go on rampage. It all happens around 3 a.m.

Image source: Chicago Police

Police said the victim — a 23-year-old female — was waiting on the train platform when one of the individuals pictured above pulled her to the ground by her hair, struck her on her face with a closed fist, and kicked her head and body.

Another one of the females pictured above assisted the other female by blocking bystander attempts to help the victim, police said.

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Gang of juvenile males chase college student into dorm, physically attack victim, go on rampage. It all happens around 3 a.m.



A gang of juvenile males chased a Temple University student into a dorm, physically attacked the victim, and went on a rampage that included property damage — and it all took place around 3 a.m. Sunday.

The assault occurred inside the Morgan Hall South dorm at Broad and Oxford Streets in North Philadelphia, WPVI-TV reported.

'We're here for the safety of our residents and our students. So, when anybody is victimized, it's concerning to us. We take it very seriously.'

Temple University police released surveillance photos showing at least nine males in connection with the assault, the station said.

Police told WPVI the victim suffered minor injuries and declined medical treatment; officers are still looking into what led up to the attack.

Investigators told the station in a separate story that cellphone video shows suspects damaging property inside the dorm lobby; one individual is seen smashing a monitor at a security desk.

RELATED: 6 thugs just 12 to 14 years old accused of beating up, robbing mentally disabled man riding his bike on Easter night

WPVI spoke with a student who said he used to live in the residence hall and received a campus alert about the attack.

"It puts the threat actually into perspective because, especially knowing as a college student your main priority is education, not really safety, but this happening is a little bit more in the forefront," sophomore Emanuel Turner told WPVI.

Officials added to the station that they're working with Philadelphia police and school district safety officials to identify those involved in the attack.

RELATED: Gang of teens caught on video beating up, robbing victim in shopping mall; similar attack happened at same mall last month

Temple Police Deputy Chief Gaetano Sava told WPVI that the incident is "concerning. Whenever our residents, I mean, we're here for the safety of our residents and our students. So, when anybody is victimized, it's concerning to us. We take it very seriously."

Campus police said Temple and Philadelphia Police are enhancing patrols, and officials urge those with information about the incident to contact the PPD tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477) or Central Detectives at 215-686-3093. You also can contact Temple’s Investigations Unit at 215-204-6200 or Temple Police at 215-204-1234.

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