99-Year-Old Man Brutally Attacked and Robbed of $20,000 in NYC

New York police are hunting a violent suspect who assaulted and robbed a 99-year-old man in a brazen daytime home invasion that has left a community shaken.

The attack happened Monday morning in Washington Heights, a neighborhood in upper Manhattan with a large Dominican American community and a history of both tight-knit resilience and rising concerns about street crime.

At around 10 a.m., the elderly victim was standing at the entrance of his residential building when a man forced his way inside, according to the NYPD. Officers say the suspect grabbed the gate, shoved past the victim, and pushed him inside.

Once in the building, the intruder reportedly held a firearm to the man’s throat and demanded access to an office. Investigators say the attacker stole approximately $20,000 in cash before fleeing on foot.

“This was a 99-year-old gentleman who should have been safe at his own front door,” an NYPD spokesperson told reporters. “Instead, he was terrorized and seriously injured.”

Emergency responders rushed the victim to NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Doctors treated him for two broken fingers and a severe laceration to his hand. Police say his injuries, while not life-threatening, are “deeply troubling given his advanced age.”

Neighbors expressed outrage over the crime. “It’s disgusting. He’s almost 100 years old—why would anyone do this?” said longtime resident Maria Alvarez, 67. “We’re all scared now. If this can happen to him, it can happen to anyone.”

Washington Heights, once plagued by violent crime in the 1980s and ’90s, has seen major revitalization in recent years. But this attack has rekindled fears about safety for seniors living in the area.

According to NYPD statistics, robberies citywide have risen slightly this year compared to 2024, though incidents targeting elderly victims remain rare. Still, community leaders say the symbolism of a nearly 100-year-old man being brutalized is devastating.

“This wasn’t just a robbery,” said Pastor Luis Mendoza of a nearby church. “It was an attack on our values as New Yorkers. We look out for our elders. Whoever did this must be brought to justice.”