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Two male youths, ages 12 and 13, have been arrested in connection to Friday night’s attack on former New York Gov. David Paterson and his stepson, Anthony Sliwa. Paterson, 70, and his 20-year-old stepson, Anthony Sliwa were victims of a gang assault along Second Avenue on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Paterson and his stepson were taken to a local hospital but have since been released. Paterson said his stepson needed five stitches on his lower lip and suffered multiple bruises.
A spokesperson for the NYPD said in a statement that police have charged the 12-year-old boy with gang assault in the second degree, and the 13-year-old boy with gang assault in the third degree. Their names were not released because they are minors. Police initially reported they were searching for five individuals in connection with the attack, and they may still be looking for more suspects.
Anthony Sliwa is the son of Curtis Sliwa, a former mayoral candidate and the founder of the Guardian Angels vigilante group. Sliwa was reportedly out walking his dog alone 45 minutes before the attack, and had argued with the teens. Per the New York Daily News, Sliwa had spotted the teens allegedly “scaling” a fire escape on the side of a building and confronted then; when Sliwa and Paterson left their home, the altercation continued and a woman allegedly threw the first punch.
A spokesperson for the former governor released a statement Sunday saying, “Governor Paterson and his family are glad to see the suspects turned themselves in. We hope that the young people involved learn something from this unfortunate encounter. The Governor is grateful to see the kids’ parents hold them to account and would also like to thank the NYPD for their strong work.”
After the incdent, Paterson and Sliwa’s father, Curtis Sliwa, spoke out. Paterson said: “When they were insulting him and starting to fight him, he didn’t back down. And I think that took a lot of courage, a lot of bravery.” Curtis Sliwa added: “He did the right thing. And then when they attacked him, he did the right thing to protect David Paterson.”
Paterson was New York’s first Black governor, serving from 2008 to 2010 after former Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned mid-term.
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