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NYPD still searching for man who threw burning substance on victim in East Harlem
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 2, 2026
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Mindaugas Dulinskas/Getty Images
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 2, 2026
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Police are still searching for a man they say walked up behind another man in East Harlem Monday night and threw an unknown substance on him, severely burning his face and neck.
So far, no arrests have been made in connection with the incident, police said Friday.
The attack happened just before 9 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 28, in front of the Cravin Crispy chicken shop on Park Avenue and East 116th Street, according to the NYPD. Police said the attacker threw the liquid on a 44-year-old man before running north.
Emergency medical workers took the victim to Harlem Hospital, where he was determined to be in stable condition.
Police released a surveillance image of the suspect on the sidewalk, holding what appears to be a silver metal container with thick steam or vapor rising from it. Footage obtained by ABC shows how the full incident played out.
Major crime in the 25th Precinct, where the attack occurred, is down nearly 15% so far this year compared with the same period last year, according to NYPD statistics. That includes felony assaults, which have fallen 8.6% from 267 in 2025 to 244 this year.
Police are asking anybody with information to call NYPD Crime Stoppers at 800-577-8477.
Tagged
manhattan
nypd
public safety
Ryan Kost
Ryan Kost is a reporter on the day-of news desk, where he covers breaking news and writes enterprise stories about jails, courts, prosecutors and government accountability. His work focuses on the public institutions that shape life in New York. Before joining the newsroom, he lead a multi-part investigation with Columbia Journalism Investigations and New York Focus into how New York prosecutors handle wrongful conviction claims. He's also been a staff writer at The San Francisco Chronicle, The Associated Press and The Oregonian. Got a tip? Signal: ryankost.20
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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