He asked for a cigarette, but got a pack of trouble instead.
A 23-year-old man was beaten up by a group of assailants, then struck by a car as he stumbled into the street, in Ozone Park early Saturday morning, according to police.
Authorities said the man approached the group in front of a location on Liberty Avenue near 109th Street at about 4:15 a.m. It is believed he asked the suspects if they had cigarettes.
When he persisted, police said, the group assaulted him about the body. The victim then stumbled into Liberty Avenue and was struck by a black Toyota traveling eastbound on Liberty Avenue.
After striking the victim, the car — operated by Emir Zulfiqar, 23, of Brooklyn — did not stop and fled the scene. Zulfiqar was arrested after returning to the scene later; he was charged with leaving the scene of an accident and disobeying a traffic light.
Officers from the 106th Precinct and EMS units responded to the scene. Paramedics rushed the victim to Jamaica Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.
The group of assailants remain at large; the NYPD released video footage of the perpetrators Sunday morning.
Anyone with information regarding the incident or 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.
