JACKSON HEIGHTS — An 85-year-old man punched in the face last week said the suspect asked him if he was American before accusing him of "hurting immigrants."
William Seifert, 85, said he was walking back from the supermarket at around 12:50 p.m. on April 12 when he took cover from a sudden rainstorm underneath the awning of the Army Navy Store on 37th Avenue, he said.
As he was huddled underneath the narrow covering with his groceries, a man approached him and asked, "Are you an American?"
"I thought it was an innocent question, and I said, 'Yes,'" he said.
But the answer enraged the suspect, who yelled "you are attacking immigrants!," according to Seifert, who tried to move away from him.
The suspect punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground with one punch. He then ran away on 37th Avenue.
"One punch was enough, I went down right away," he said.
The NYPD is not pursuing it as a hate crime, officials said.
The attack left Seifert with an orbital fracture in his left eye and also broke his prescription sunglasses, he said.
Seifert's prescription sunglasses were smashed in the attack, he said. (DNAinfo/Katie Honan)
He was taken to Elmhurst Hospital, and has visited eye specialists in the week since the attack.
Police said the suspect also slapped an 18-year-old woman on 37th Avenue moments before attacking Seifert.
The 115th Precinct is currently investigating, although Inspector Michelle Irizarry said the Hate Crime Task Force is not pursuing it as a hate crime.
Seifert, who said he's making progress every day, said he's never experienced anything like this in his 22 years in the neighborhood.
"I was in the wrong place at the wrong time," he said.
