A man sporting a black stovepipe top hat stabbed and wounded three men on the Lower East Side early Wednesday during a bizarre clash over food involving clubgoers and a neighborhood homeless man who does push-ups for spare change, police and witnesses said.
Cops released a surveillance photo of the stabber and are asking the public’s help in finding him.
The attacker, who was also sporting dreadlocks and a baseball cap under his fancy hat, got into an argument with the group near Delancey St. and the Bowery at around 1:10 a.m. after he swiped a 26-year-old homeless man’s food order at a nearby deli, police said.
A witness told the Daily News the stabbing began when the homeless man began doing push-ups for money in front of a group of stylish clubgoers outside the deli.
“They were a bunch of well-dressed guys who had obviously been out clubbing,” said the witness, who asked that his name be withheld. “This homeless guy does push-ups for money, and the guys outside bought him some food.”
The homeless man was collecting his food inside the bodega when the crook in the top hat stormed in and grabbed it. He was leaving the deli with the stolen food when the clubgoers noticed the theft and gave chase, the witness said.
“Top hat guy takes his food, and the five of them went after him,” said the witness. “On the corner, he stands his ground, and it was stab, stab, stab.”
The attacker stabbed the man who ordered the food in the abdomen, police said. He also stabbed two of the witnesses, 21 and 19, cops said. The older man was stabbed in the left shoulder. The younger man was cut in the left arm, police said.
Medics took the victims to Bellevue Hospital, where they were listed in stable condition.
The stabber made off with one of his victims’ fanny packs, which contained credit cards, and has not been caught.
He’s being sought for assault and robbery, cops said.
The attacker was also wearing a black sweatshirt and blue jeans in addition to his two hats, NYPD officials said.
Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is urged to call NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.