A robbery inside an Astoria apartment earlier this week that left one man stabbed and critically injured appears to have been the result of a botched drug deal, law enforcement sources said.
The incident took place at 11:20 p.m. on the night of Aug. 23 in the vicinity of 33rd Street and 31st Avenue.
Sources familiar with the investigation stated that the two suspects — both described as white males between 20 and 25 years of age — met with two 27-year-old males at the location for an apparent narcotics transaction.
The deal apparently went sour, police said, and the two suspects then attacked the two males, punching them in the face. As the injured males attempted to flee the apartment, police said, one of the bandits stabbed an alleged drug dealer multiple times in the hand and back.
Authorities said the bandits grabbed a suitcase and $800 in cash and fled the scene on foot; they were last observed heading northbound on 33rd Street.
Officers from the 114th Precinct and EMS units responded to the incident. The stabbing victim was rushed to a local hospital, where he was listed in critical but stable condition.
One of the suspects was last observed wearing a dark colored long-sleeved shirt, dark pants and dark colored shoes; his accomplice was last seen wearing a gray t-shirt and dark colored shorts.
Anyone with information regarding the suspects’ whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS, visit their website or send a text message to 274637 (CRIMES), then enter TIP577. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
