Callous attacker busted in brutal NYC punch that knocked girl, 81 unconscious: cops

A callous attacker was busted Thursday for knocking out an 81-year-old girl in a random sucker-punch assault on the Higher West Aspect final month, cops mentioned.

Hansel Esparragoza, 37 – a Staten Island resident with 21 prior arrests – was charged with felony assault within the Sept. 13 caught-on-video assault on Geula Freeman at West 66th Road and Amsterdam Avenue, authorities mentioned. 

Esparragoza sported scruffy facial hair and was sporting a lightweight inexperienced T-shirt, black sweat pants and rubber slide-on footwear when detectives led the handcuffed suspect out of the entrance door of the twentieth Precinct and right into a ready cop automobile Thursday. 

He refused to reply questions on whether or not, or why, he punched the lady.

Esparragoza was most just lately arrested in August for petit larceny, and in July for performing in a fashion injurious to a toddler – each in Staten Island, cops and sources mentioned. 

Footage of the assault on Freeman, obtained by Fox 5, shows the brute at first strolling by the sufferer whereas she was strolling her son’s Goldendoodle. 

Moments later, he rotated and senselessly dealt a blow to the fitting aspect of the lady’s face, the video reveals.

The sudden assault knocked Freeman to the bottom unconscious, in accordance with cops and the footage.

She suffered facial and head accidents and was taken to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital for therapy, police mentioned.

“I’ve amnesia, I don’t even keep in mind what had occurred,” Freeman beforehand advised The Submit of the assault. “Besides that I’ve the face and physique [bruises] to really feel that.”

“I used to be advised I misplaced consciousness and that I had a concussion,” she continued.

Freeman mentioned she didn’t assume she was focused by the ruffian, however desires him to get assist.

“I don’t take it personally, it was random, no one actually needed to do it simply to me. I don’t take it personally,” Freeman mentioned.

Nonetheless, the aged sufferer, who has lived on the Higher West Aspect since 2007 and frequents Lincoln Heart, mentioned she has since turn into extra alert as she traverses the Large Apple. 

“It was such a shock as a result of it was described to me the way it occurred that I might not have been capable of do something,” she mentioned of the assault.

“However no less than I’m now seeking to see who’s coming towards me and to not be too near individuals, and like within the final two days after I see individuals just a little bit off, I simply actually be certain I’m just a little bit removed from them so I’m very vigilant.”