Elderly woman punched to the ground in New York is city's tenth victim of sickening 'knock out' craze

  • 76-year-old treated for bruising after stranger lashes out in street
  • Attack came shortly after rally against wave of violence

By Jessica Jerreat

PUBLISHED: 18:09 EST, 30 November 2013 | UPDATED: 18:10 EST, 30 November 2013

A 76-year-old woman who was knocked to the ground by a stranger yesterday is thought to be the latest victim in a dangerous 'knock out' game in New York.

Yvonne Small was walking through Brooklyn at about 11.30am when an unidentified person punched her in the back of the head.

Ms Small, who was knocked to the ground in the unprovoked attack, is believed to the the tenth victim in a sick craze.

Suspect: Police want to speak to this man after a 76-year-old woman was knocked to the ground

Suspect: Police want to speak to this man after a 76-year-old woman was knocked to the ground

Her attacker struck shortly after members of the Rev Al Sharpton's group held a rally nearby to try to bring an end to the street violence.

Surveillance footage of the attack has been released, as police try to track Ms Small's assailant, according to the Gothamist.

Nine other victims, many Jewish residents of Brooklyn neighborhoods, have also fallen victim to the sick craze where passers by sucker punch strangers in an attempt to knock them out in one move.

The National Action Network group has been rallying to prevent further attacks, and has called on social media groups to stop showing violent videos of similar attacks.

 

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'We will be talking to the advertisers of those networks to make sure that they understand if they don’t take action, we will take action,' Tony Herbert, president of the group’s East Brooklyn chapter, said.

Ms Small, who was treated for bruising to her head, is the second-oldest woman to have been injured in the violent craze.

A 78-year-old woman is the oldest victim, and an Orthodox Jew who was knocked out in Crown Heights is believed to have been racially targeted.

Similar attacks have also been reported in states including Connecticut, New Jersey, Illinois, Missouri and Washington.

The suspect in Ms Small's attack is described as being a black male in his 20s or 30s. Ms Small told police she had seen him lurking suspiciously moments before, the New York Post reported.

'This is what we're coming to in our community that our children are finding recreation in hurting someone,' Lesha Seku, who is part of the group campaigning against the craze, told ABC News.

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You're almost there DM.....These assaults best CANNOT nor Shouldn't be described as a "craze" (this word connotates some sort of sporty fun) IT IS AN EPIDEMIC!! (which connotates something negative, which spreads to other various individuals). SO "Knockout Assault Epidemic" Be a leader in your field for once and in no way glorify the behaviour of these violent, lost thugs. And you better believe if these crimes aren't taken more seriously and given the same APPROPRIATE attention as perhaps if a celebrity uses a g ay slur, (heaven knows such as incident as that will be in EVERY media outlet spanning 30,000 miles across the western hemisphere, and worded specifically to deter others) the streets of London will be replete with these crimes rampant against YOUR most defenseless criticizes as well..... Use your power, your forum for good for the good, instead of just sensationalism once in a while, eh?

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Any bets on what race he is?

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Since it quite clearly states in the article, no.

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"Are you watching New-Atheists? Welcome to the future." - Why do religious people think atheists need the bible to tell them right from wrong. I think this assumption says more about themselves than anything - I guess the majority of people in prisons are religious so maybe "believers" are more prone to moral turpitude and need extra guidance in what constitutes decent behaviour. The kind of behaviour that is obvious to most atheists/intelligent people.

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What badasses! They punch old people from behind. Their families must be so proud

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The tenth victim? What in an hour? That day? This has been going on for years and quite a few people have died. It is a hate crime, not a game.

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It's also called polar bear hunting; for those who can figure it out.

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Those attackers deserve to be punched by the victim's family and friends. Once they got caught, they should tied to the trees on the street and let people to punch them as punishment.

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This will end in a death, hopefully the perpetrators...

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It already has. There have been about 4. Yeah, I know, your wondering why there isn't more outrage like the Trayvon Martin case Don't hold your breath

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Obama's kids committing HATE crimes again! I think its time for the worm to turn and let's see how his little darlings like it.

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What?

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I love how people make this the democrats fault... what a silly thing to say.

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u getting a clue might be in order at some point!

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