‘Sneak’ attack
Rider fights for life after bash over Nikes
A BROOKLYN subway rider’s devotion to his spotless sneakers left him with one foot in the grave.
Nike-loving Anthony Hamoui, 30, was fighting for his life Saturday in the intensive care unit at NYU Lutheran Medical Center after a stranger stepped on his pricey kicks — and then beat him unconscious on the R train.
Relatives gathered around Hamoui’s bed in a grim vigil, hopeful his dire condition might improve and the fugitive attacker might be arrested.
Hamoui was savagely beaten when the near-fatal footwear flap erupted Friday as the southbound train rolled toward the 36th St. station in Sunset Park around 3:45 p.m., cops said.
The victim was napping, leaning his head on his girlfriend’s shoulder, when a fellow straphanger stepped on his beloved Nikes, according to a relative.
Hamoui “loves his sneakers,” a relative told the Daily News. “He goes home and cleans them. He buys two pairs of sneakers a week.
“He probably said something to the guy about watching where he was stepping.”
Witnesses said the other subway rider wasn’t hearing it, and quickly flew into a violent rage. A punch to the face dropped Hamoui to the floor of the subway car as they rode through Brooklyn.
“His girlfriend said (the assailant) was kicking him when he was down,” said the family member. “Just kicking him over and over. And then she saw Anthony on the ground and he was blue — just lying there.”
Three nurses on the train came to his rescue before an EMT arrived and saved Hamoui’s life.
“If it wasn’t for him, Anthony would be dead,” said the relative. “One of the witnesses said (the attacker) just started pummeling him . . . He got assaulted, that’s it.”
The suspect jumped off the train after the beating, quickly boarding a departing D train to make his getaway.
Hamoui was rushed to the hospital in critical but stable condition.
The suspect — wearing a white shirt, black jeans and a black backpack — remained at large Saturday.
Hamoui was unconscious and breathing with the help of a tube, according to the relative.
“He’s a gentle soul and wouldn’t hurt a fly,” said the family member. “He’d give you the shirt off his back. He might have said something to the kid. But he would not be the guy to instigate violence.”
Hamoui’s mother, who headed up Saturday from Florida to see her son, spoke with him just five minutes before the beating began.
“His mom’s his best friend,” said the family member. “And Anthony is not a big guy. He’s tall, but he’s not muscular like that.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.