Authorities have released new footage showing a violent altercation at an Apple Store in New York City hoping to gain new leads. The surveillance footage showed the Friday night attack, in which the suspect stabbed a security guard after being asked to wear a mask at the Chelsea store, according to ABC7.
The suspect, who has yet to be identified, became enraged when confronted about his lack of a mask by the guard, Alejandro Sosa. As the conflict escalated, the suspect pulled a knife and began stabbing Sosa, hitting him three times in the arm, back, and forehead, as can be seen in the video.
The suspect left the store following this heated attack and has yet to be located by police. He was last seen at the store wearing blue jeans, black sneakers, and a black jacket with red lettering on it. Police reported that the suspect had his face partially covered while leaving the scene, making his way to the subway station on West 14th Street and Eighth Avenue.
🚨WANTED for ASSAULT: On 10/8/21 @ 6:20 PM, inside of 401 West 14th St. (Apple Store) @NYPD10Pct @Manhattan. The suspect slapped, slashed and stabbed Victim #1 and punched female victim#2. Any info call or DM NYPDTips at 800-577-TIPS. Reward up to $3,500. pic.twitter.com/AchFN4q44O
— NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) October 12, 2021
Sosa, 37, was taken to Bellevue Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries following the incident. He remains in treatment as of Sunday and is expected to make a recovery.
Sosa’s wife, Iris Figureroa, spoke with Eyewitness News about the attack, expressing her hope that the suspect will be taken into custody soon. She also explained that her husband started working at the Apple Store location in March 2020 and had not encountered anything like the assault on Friday in all his time there.
“I really wish [the suspect would] come forward, come forward and let the cops get them, I don’t know why they did this to my husband,” Figureroa said. “He did his job, he went, never had any issues so yeah this is pretty devastating to me.”
Sosa and Figureroa had, prior to the attack, been planning to start a family together. Now, they are focused on the immediate future, looking forward to Sosa’s recovery and their wedding anniversary on Halloween.
“He told me I kept him alive, what he told me, I pray he stays that way,” Figureroa continued. “I felt this could have ended way differently, I’m very happy he’s alive.”
Eric Thayer/Getty Images
Witnesses from the scene described how Apple Store workers took Sosa behind a nearby staircase and administered first aid while waiting for emergency responders to arrive.
“He had a bandage on his stomach,” a security worker at a nearby building explained. “The ambulance pulled up and took him out on a stretcher.”
The New York City Police Department asks anyone with information about the suspect to call their Crime Stopper hotline at 1-800-577-8477, or for Spanish, 1-888-577-4782. Tips can also be submitted via their website or through a direct message on Twitter, @NYPDTips.
