LOWER EAST SIDE — As at least a half dozen attackers beat a pair of straphangers on a northbound J train Friday night, one of the assailants pulled out a hammer and pummeled one of the victims in the head repeatedly, police said.
The two male victims, one 29 and the other 53 years old, got into a dispute with the estimated six to seven attackers around 9:05 p.m. as the J train approached the Bowery stop, at which point the assailants began punching and kicking the two men, police said.
One of the attackers bludgeoned the 29-year-old victim in the head with a hammer several times, according to authorities, leaving him with contusions on his head. He was taken to a nearby hospital in serious but stable condition, police said.
The other victim had minor bruising and refused medical attention at the scene, police said.
The suspects fled at the Bowery station, according to authorities.
Police released photos of four of the suspects, all believed to be in their 20s. One is described as having a slim build and was last seen wearing a gray coat and black pants. Another is described as having a medium build and was last seen wearing a black jacket, black pants and yellow boots, while another is described as heavy-set and was last seen wearing a black hoodie, and another with a slim build was last seen wearing a black and brown coat and a black du-rag on his head, police said.
The remaining suspects are also described as being in their 20s, police said. It was not clear which attacker used the hammer.
Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
