Seek witnesses in Howard Beach melee

The Queens District Attorney’s Office and the New York City Police Department’s Hate Crimes Task Force are requesting the public’s assistance with their investigation into the reported assault of several individuals in or near the McDonald’s restaurant on Cross Bay Boulevard in Howard Beach on Halloween night, October 31.
Anyone who was in the vicinity of 159th Avenue and Cross Bay Boulevard that night who witnessed the alleged attack or has information that may assist the investigation is urged to contact the police as soon as possible at 800-577-TIPS or the District Attorney’s Hate Crime Bureau at 800-648-9961. All information will be kept confidential.
According to the criminal charges filed thus far in the case, four local teenagers were chased around the corner of 159th Avenue and 92nd Street shortly before 10 p.m. on October 31 by a large group of individuals carrying sticks. In fear of being seriously injured, the four victims fled to a McDonald’s Restaurant on Cross Bay Boulevard, closely followed by their pursuers While inside the restaurant, it is alleged that one of the pursuers struck one of the fleeing teenagers in the back of the neck with a hard object, injuring him. Another pursuer allegedly struck a second teenager in the head with a broom handle, which broke on contact. That teenager was taken to a local hospital where he received seven staples to close his wound.