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12 & 13 Year Olds Charged in Assault on Former Gov. David Paterson and Stepson on Upper East Side
Edited by: TJVNews.com
Two boys, aged 12 and 13, have been charged with gang assault following a violent attack on former New York Governor David Paterson and his stepson, Anthony Sliwa, on the Upper East Side. According to a report in The New York Daily News, the boys surrendered to police Saturday night, accompanied by their parents, a day after the confrontation took place near Paterson’s residence. A third teen involved in the altercation also surrendered but has not yet been charged. Due to their age, the names of the suspects have not been released by authorities.
“The person that punched me on the shoulder, I threw them against the McDonald’s window myself.”
Former New York State Governor David Paterson, speaks about recent assault on him and step son, Anthony Chester Sliwa, son of Curtis Sliwa, founder of anti-crime group, the Guardian… pic.twitter.com/TqAsAKjXoo
— FreedomNews.Tv FNTV (@FreedomNTV) October 5, 2024
Paterson’s spokesperson expressed relief that the young suspects had turned themselves in. “Gov. Paterson and his family are glad to see the suspects turned themselves in,” the spokesperson said, as was indicated in The New York Daily News report. “We hope that the young people involved learn something from this unfortunate encounter. The Governor is grateful to see the kids’ parents hold them to account and would also like to thank the NYPD for their strong work.” This statement reflects a hope for accountability and personal growth following the disturbing incident.
Former NY Gov. David Paterson and his step son hurt in “gang assault” in #NYC #CrimeWatch #Newsnight pic.twitter.com/IwxNyfTfwE
— Political Avenger After Dark TV (@AvengeAfterDark) October 6, 2024
The attack, which took place on Friday evening, began after a confrontation between Paterson’s stepson, Anthony Sliwa, and some of the attackers earlier in the evening. During a press conference on Saturday, Paterson, 70, who is legally blind, recounted the assault, explaining that he and his 20-year-old stepson had to defend themselves against a group of about nine individuals. Paterson described how the confrontation escalated near East 97th Street as the group approached them. The New York Daily News reported that Paterson and Sliwa had been walking down Second Avenue at approximately 8:30 p.m. when the group confronted them, leading to a physical altercation.
Former New York Gov. David Paterson and his stepson were attacked by a gang of thugs while walking their dog
Paterson, 70, and his stepson, Anthony Chester Sliwa, 20, encountered a group of young men climbing a fire escape
pic.twitter.com/VFtRz8a7nu— MAGA Elvis 🇺🇸 (@BenStanton77) October 5, 2024
Earlier that evening, Sliwa had a separate encounter with members of the same group while walking his dog, Bella. Paterson explained that Sliwa had noticed three of the attackers scaling a fire escape on the side of a building and confronted them, sparking a tense argument. About 45 minutes later, while Paterson and Sliwa were heading to a nearby McDonald’s, the same three individuals—this time joined by six others—confronted them once again, according to The New York Daily News.
What began as a verbal exchange quickly escalated when a woman, whom Paterson estimated to be in her 30s, initiated the physical confrontation by throwing the first punch at Sliwa. “This just wasn’t an incident involving young people who were getting out of hand,” Paterson said, emphasizing that the situation had taken on a much more aggressive tone, involving older participants and multiple attackers.
The violent encounter has sparked both concern and relief within the community, as parents of the teens took steps to turn their children in to authorities. While the police continue their investigation, Paterson’s comments reflect a desire to see the young attackers held accountable, but also a hope that they will learn valuable lessons from this experience. As The New York Daily News pointed out, the situation could have escalated even further had Paterson and Sliwa not been able to defend themselves.
The fact that Paterson, a legally blind former governor, and Sliwa, the son of Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, were involved in such a brazen attack raises further questions about public safety in New York City’s streets.
Sliwa, who was scheduled to take his purple belt test at the Guardian Angels’ martial arts dojo this week, managed to hold his own against the attackers but was ultimately overwhelmed by the sheer number of assailants. As The New York Daily News reported, both Paterson and Sliwa sustained injuries during the assault, which occurred on Friday evening.
Paterson recounted the intense moments during a press conference the following day. “I got punched in the face a couple times and I got punched in the shoulder,” Paterson said, as was noted in The New York Daily News report. However, despite his injuries, he managed to fight back. “The person who punched me on the shoulder, I threw them against the McDonald’s window myself,” Paterson added, demonstrating his resilience during the attack. The former governor sustained bruises and some pain to his head, while Sliwa, who also suffered bruising, required five stitches to treat a cut lip.
The attack has sent shockwaves through the community, highlighting concerns about street violence even in typically safe neighborhoods like the Upper East Side. The NYPD quickly launched an investigation and released surveillance footage early Saturday, showing five suspects in the hopes that someone would recognize them and come forward with information. As of the latest updates, it remains unclear whether the two teenagers who turned themselves in were among the individuals identified in the footage, The New York Daily News reported.
The violent encounter has drawn significant attention, not just because of the individuals involved but also due to the location and nature of the incident. David Paterson, New York’s first Black governor, took office in March 2008 after his predecessor, Eliot Spitzer, resigned in the wake of a prostitution scandal. The New York Daily News reported that Paterson served as governor until the end of 2010 but opted not to seek reelection. Despite stepping out of the political spotlight, Paterson remains a well-known figure in New York City, which has only added to the public interest in the case.
Authorities are urging anyone with further information on the attack to contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS, emphasizing that all tips will be kept confidential. This call for public assistance reflects the seriousness with which the NYPD is approaching the case, aiming to identify and apprehend all those involved in the attack.
