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.
Help us identify these suspects #wanted for an ASSAULT on 5/18 at 9:25am of a 38-year-old man who intervened while this group of teens harassed an elderly couple in front of 217 E 86th St. #UES $2,500 reward for info leading to arrests.
Please ☎ 1-800-577-TIPS or DM @NYPDTips. pic.twitter.com/bmzTzKaAUl
— NYPD 19th Precinct (@NYPD19Pct) May 21, 2019
According to the NY Daily News, Mongiello lost five teeth, suffered a concussion, and required 25 stitches to close a head wound. He was treated at a local hospital and later released.
“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.
Off-duty firefighter attacked after defending elderly couple on Upper East Side https://t.co/NEEHdkvsZ4 pic.twitter.com/6L5yq8HsO4
— Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) May 21, 2019
An off-duty FDNY firefighter was attacked after he defended an elderly couple from a group of teens in Manhattan Saturday morning, police said. https://t.co/DN8UZcixnQ
— PIX11 News (@PIX11News) May 21, 2019
“They’re being raised with no … treating people with no respect anymore. It’s heartbreaking,” Kristina Silva, who works on the Upper West Side, told CBS New York.
“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.
Crime Prevention Officers flooding @East86th Street with images of suspect #wanted for assault of an off-duty @FDNY firefighter who intervened while a group of teens harassed an elderly couple in front of 217 E 86 St. on 5/18.
Any information? Please ☎ @NYPDTips 1-800-577-TIPS pic.twitter.com/4N74YSocF5
— NYPD 19th Precinct (@NYPD19Pct) May 21, 2019
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).
A previous version of this article stated that surveillance video showed the assault. NTD regrets the error.
