KNOCKOUT
Bully punches man, photographs victim lying in street
A suspect surrendered Thursday afternoon after the NYPD released video that showed him punching out a 37-year-old man in the middle of the street and then photographing the helpless victim as thieves combed through the man’s clothes for valuables, police said.
The attacker, Luis Rivera, 22, who has no previous criminal records, turned himself in at the 46th Precinct and was charged with felony assault in the June 18 attack of Fernando Levano, police said.
“I’m happy they have him in custody so he can’t take advantage of other people like he did to my brother,” said Levano’s sister, Christina Zuniga.
Shocking video shows the bully walk up and deliver a devastating right hook to Levano’s head at Aqueduct Ave. and Buchanan Place in University Heights at around 6 a.m. As Levano was sprawled out in the crosswalk, a group of people, including a woman believed to be a local crack addict, walk over — to pick the man’s pockets and swipe his phone and ID card.
Moments later, the goon who clocked him can be seen returning to take pictures of his unconscious victim.
Levano, who suffered a severe brain injury from the skull fracture, remains in critical condition at St. Barnabas Hospital, cops said.
He was in a medically induced coma, but on Thursday doctors performed a tracheotomy so he could breathe on his own. Because he became “very aggressive,” when he woke up, Levano had to be sedated again, according to his brother, Cesar Zuniga, 31.
“He has brain damage on both sides of his brain,’’ Zuniga explained. “We don’t know what’s going to happen to him.”
As he spoke, Zuniga could barely contain his anger.
“He had his headphones on and they said something to him, then started beating him.” Zuniga said.
After Levano dropped, his assailant high-fived another man and smirks spread wide across both their faces, video of the aftermath shows. As far as a block away, the creep was still celebrating the knock out, a clip reveals.
Police are hoping the footage shared Thursday will help the public identify the accomplice.
Levano had just left a bodega and was heading his factory job when he was pounced on.
The sucker puncher’s accomplice is described as a Hispanic man around 20, with a slim build, black hair and black beard. He has a tattoo on his right forearm and was wearing a light blue Yankees baseball hat, a light blue T-shirt and a yellow T-shirt, a black belt, camouflage cargo pants and black boots.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS.