NEW YORK — A suspect was caught on camera using a hatchet to attack an ATM customer in Lower Manhattan on Sunday. Police say the heinous offender is now in custody.
Aaron Garcia was charged with attempted murder and assault in the bloody violence inside the Chase Bank in the Financial District, NYPD said.
Garcia, 37, was arrested once he was released from Bellevue Hospital, where officers took him for evaluation after catching him reportedly smashing car windows in Chelsea about 10 p.m. on Tuesday. He is also wanted for crimes in Yonkers, according to law enforcement sources, New York Post reported.
The New York Post’s coverage of the hatchet attack. (Image via New York Post)
Surveillance video from Sunday’s shocking attack reportedly shows Garcia using a hatchet to repeatedly slash a 51-year-man during an unprovoked, blindsided pummeling that began when the victim was using an ATM machine around 5:20 p.m.
The wounded victim tried valiantly to defend himself after being struck by the suspect, according to video of the bloody crime.
Surveillance footage of the hatchet attack inside of the bank. (Image via New York Post)
At one point, Garcia is allegedly seen lowering the boom with the hatchet on the already bloodied victim’s head during the carnage.
After brutally pummeling the victim, Garcia is seen smashing the screens of the ATM machines before discarding the hatchet and fleeing the scene, according to police.
The medical status of the victim remains unclear as no further details were provided.