Callous assailant busted for knocking out NYC lady, 81, in sucker-punch assault

A callous attacker was busted Thursday for knocking out an 81-year-old lady in a random sucker-punch assault on the Higher West Aspect final month, cops stated.

Hansel Esparragoza, 37 – a Staten Island resident with 21 prior arrests – was charged with felony assault within the Sept. 13 caught-on-video assault on Geula Freeman at West 66th Road and Amsterdam Avenue, authorities stated. 

Esparragoza sported scruffy facial hair and was carrying a lightweight inexperienced T-shirt, black sweat pants and rubber slide-on sneakers when detectives led the handcuffed suspect out of the entrance door of the twentieth Precinct and right into a ready cop automotive Thursday. 

He refused to reply questions on whether or not, or why, he punched the girl.

Esparragoza was most lately arrested in August for petit larceny, and in July for appearing in a fashion injurious to a toddler – each in Staten Island, cops and sources stated. 

Footage of the assault on Freeman, obtained by Fox 5, exhibits the brute at first strolling by the sufferer whereas she was strolling her son’s Goldendoodle. 

Moments later, he rotated and senselessly dealt a blow to the appropriate facet of the girl’s face, the video exhibits.

The sudden assault knocked Freeman to the bottom unconscious, in response to cops and the footage.

She suffered facial and head accidents and was taken to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital for therapy, police stated.

“I’ve amnesia, I don’t even bear in mind what had occurred,” Freeman beforehand instructed The Put up of the assault. “Besides that I’ve the face and physique [bruises] to really feel that.”

“I used to be instructed I misplaced consciousness and that I had a concussion,” she continued.

Freeman stated she didn’t suppose she was focused by the ruffian, however desires him to get assist.

“I don’t take it personally, it was random, no person actually needed to do it simply to me. I don’t take it personally,” Freeman stated.

Nonetheless, the aged sufferer, who has lived on the Higher West Aspect since 2007 and frequents Lincoln Heart, stated she has since turn out to be extra alert as she traverses the Huge Apple. 

“It was such a shock as a result of it was described to me the way it occurred that I’d not have been capable of do something,” she stated of the assault.

“However not less than I’m now trying to see who’s coming towards me and to not be too near individuals, and like within the final two days after I see individuals a bit of bit off, I simply actually make certain I’m a bit of bit removed from them so I’m very vigilant.”