A group of teenagers attacking an elderly couple in New York City turned on an off-duty firefighter who stepped in to try to stop the attack.
Three male and three female teenagers were harassing an elderly couple on May 18 on the Upper East Side when John Mongiello, 38, stepped in and tried to make them stop.
That's when the group turned on him, punching him, knocking him to the ground, and continuing to strike him.
Surveillance video captured the group walking nearby after the assault.
“He saw somebody in trouble and he thought he could help them, and now he’s suffering for it," the firefighter’s mother told the outlet.
“He was off-duty, but he was acting to keep the peace of New York City, which is his job. Even though he’s hurt, I’m extremely proud of him. He was trying to help somebody else, and anybody would be proud of a son who did that. But my heart breaks to look at him.“
Area residents and workers said they were upset with what happened.
“There should be something has to be done to teach them you can’t go around doing that. You just can’t."
“Crazy. Kids 15 to 17 do stupid things,” Upper East Side resident John Conte added. “I mean, you can’t really get away with anything anymore. They’re going to be found and prosecuted.”
Neighbors told the broadcaster that Mongiello is a good guy while his parents said he's recovering from his injuries.
The New York Police Department asked members of the public to come forward with tips that will help officers find the teens.
The department's 19th Precinct shared a picture of an officer putting up a wanted poster, adding that officers were "flooding East 86th Street with images of suspect wanted for assault of an off-duty firefighter who intervened while a group of teens harassed an elderly couple in front of 217 E 86 St. on 5/18."
The suspects are believed to be between 15 and 17 years old.
Anyone with information was asked to call the department at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). Spanish speakers can call 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).