May 26, 2026 NEW YORK, NYAn ordinary afternoon walk turned into a waking nightmare for two unsuspecting pedestrians in Washington Heights, as a ruthless gang transformed a local intersection into a daylight hunting ground.

In a shocking display of brazen lawlessness, the group launched two separate, vicious attacks just hours apart at the intersection of W. 186 Street and Laurel Hill Terrace. Here is how a single neighborhood street became a zone of terror on May 7.

The First Ambush: Slashed and Swarmed

The terror began at 3:20 p.m. A 21-year-old man was walking down the street when he was suddenly surrounded by five individuals. In a flash, one of the perpetrators snatched the cellphone straight out of his hand.

Refusing to back down, the young man confronted the thieves and miraculously managed to wrestle his phone back. But the victory was short-lived. The encounter quickly turned into a bloodbath:

• One attacker pulled a knife, slashing the young man.

• The remaining four suspects swarmed him, raining down a barrage of punches and kicks.

After leaving their victim bloodied on the pavement, the pack fled on foot, heading westbound on West 187th Street. EMS rushed to the scene to treat the shaken victim.

The Second Ambush: A Woman Viciously Beaten

Just over two hours later, at 5:40 p.m., the wolves struck the exact same location. This time, their target was a 44-year-old woman walking alone.

Two members of the group crept up on the woman from behind. In a terrifyingly coordinated assault, one suspect drew a knife and ripped the phone from her grasp, while the other began viciously punching her in the face and body.

Like the first victim, this resilient woman fought back and successfully recovered her phone. The cowards fled the scene, running northbound on Amsterdam Avenue. The victim was transported by EMS to New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center in stable condition, bearing the physical and emotional scars of the assault.

CRIME SCENE LOCATIONS:
Incident 1 (3:20 PM) 📍 W. 186 St & Laurel Hill Terrace (5 Suspects)
Incident 2 (5:40 PM) 📍 W. 186 St & Laurel Hill Terrace (2 Suspects)

The Hunt is On: NYPD Releases Photos

The NYPD has officially released surveillance footage of the suspects involved in the first attack. Investigators believe the same violent crew is responsible for both incidents. As of today, these dangerous individuals remain at large on the streets of New York.

CAN YOU IDENTIFY THEM? > The suspects are considered dangerous. If you recognize anyone from the area or have any information, do not hesitate to speak up.

How You Can Help Bring Them to Justice

The NYPD is pleading with the public for any information that could lead to the arrest of these suspects. Your tip could prevent the next innocent person from becoming a victim.

• Call Crime Stoppers: 1-800-577-TIPS (For Spanish, call 1-888-57-PISTA)

• Submit Online: crimestoppers.nypdonline.org

• Social Media: Send a DM on X (formerly Twitter) to @NYPDTips

All calls, texts, and messages are strictly confidential. Help take these predators off the streets.