THE BRONX — Police on Tuesday arrested one of five men who broke a street vendor's skull in a beating for stopping one of them from stealing a purse he was selling, police said.
William Burgess, 21, was arrested on charges of gang assault seven days after he attacked Souleymane Porgo, 53, in front of his horrified wife and two daughters, NYPD officials said.
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Burgess, of Fordham, hadn't been arraigned as of Tuesday afternoon, records show.
He's been arrested 22 times, but many of those police records are sealed, an NYPD spokeswoman said.
Porgo's skull was fractured and he was in a coma after the attack, officials said.
He was being treated at Lincoln Medical Center as an army of outraged people donated money to funds for his medical expenses.
By Tuesday afternoon, they'd raised more than $41,720 in two GoFundMe pages.
The other four men who took part in Porgo's attack hadn't been arrested as of Tuesday afternoon.
"We're very encouraged by this news and hopeful that it leads to the capture of the other criminals," said Sean Basinski of the Street Vendor Project in response to the arrest.
Investigators released only one other name of an attacker, Enrique Foote, who they said took part.
Don't let this represent the #Bronx! #yourcityyourcall Call 1-800-577-TIPS or the Detective listed on the flyer! pic.twitter.com/fgCj1xBFVT
— NYPD 40th Precinct (@NYPD40Pct) May 6, 2017
Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477).
