Detectives are asking for the public’s help in finding four individuals involved in the bloody assault of two workers at a Taco Bell restaurant in Woodhaven last month.
The NYPD released on Wednesday, Nov. 16, security camera images of the suspects wanted for the attack that took place at 9:45 p.m. on the night of Oct. 16 inside the Taco Bell located at 97-01 Atlantic Ave. on the Woodhaven/Ozone Park border.
According to law enforcement sources, the trouble began when two male employees, ages 22 and 21, directed the group of individuals and a fifth suspect — Erickson Cepeda, 25, of 124th Street in Richmond Hill — not to sit on the counters.
Police said the group then went on the attack, stabbing the 22-year-old worker twice in his torso and assaulting the 21-year-old male about the face and body. They were observed moments later entering a black SUV taxi traveling eastbound on Atlantic Avenue; upon further investigation, police determined that the group was dropped off in the area of Jamaica Avenue and 132nd Street.
Officers from the 102nd Precinct and EMS units responded to the assault. The 22-year-old worker was taken to Jamaica Hospital in serious but stable condition; the 21-year-old worker was treated for minor injuries.
Police apprehended Cepeda on Oct. 26 and charged him with gang assault and assault, but his cohorts remain at large.
One of the four individuals is described by police as a Hispanic female between 22 and 28 years of age who was last observed wearing a black sweater, blue jeans and black sneakers. The other three suspects are Hispanic males between 22 and 28 years of age.
The first of the male suspects wore a dark-colored baseball cap, a black hooded sweatshirt, black pants and white sneakers; a second male perpetrator wore a white baseball cap, a black sweater, a red shirt, black pants and black sneakers; and the third assailant wore a black-and-white baseball cap, a black sweater, black pants and white sneakers.
The third individual is a male, Hispanic, 22 to 28 years old, last seen wearing a white baseball cap, a black sweater, a red shirt, black pants and black sneakers.
The fourth individual is a male, Hispanic, 22 to 28 years old, last seen wearing a black and white baseball cap, a black sweater, black pants and white sneakers.
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.
