INWOOD — Police said they do not believe a man who turned himself in last week was responsible for the punch that knocked a man into a coma at the popular Mamajuana Café earlier this month.
Although 26-year-old Javier Delarosa said he was involved in the attack when he turned himself into cops, police said another suspect likely landed the punch that sent the 23-year-old victim to the hospital, where he is still reportedly in a coma.
Delarosa was charged with first-degree assault for the Jan. 8 attack on the unidentified man at Mamajuana Café, located at 274 Dyckman St.
The victim was struck in the head and knocked unconscious by one of the suspects at approximately 3:30 a.m., police said.
Mamajuana has drawn fire from the community since it opened more than five years ago. Residents have accused the restaurant as operating more like a club, attracting noisy and drunken patrons.
The chain is looking to open a "high-end Italian restaurant" in Inwood this year — a move some locals fought this month by protesting its liquor license application.
Community Board 12's economic development committee, however, voted to recommend the full board approve the license. A vote is scheduled for Jan. 24. during Community Board 12’s general meeting.
The owners recently opened a location on the Upper West Side at 570 Amsterdam Ave., at West 88th Street, and plan to open another spot at 134 E. 48th St. in Midtown. Mamajuana also has restaurants in Miami and in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.
Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
