NEW YORK, NY — Police in Manhattan are looking for a man accused of stabbing another man during an argument in the East Village early Saturday morning. The confrontation happened around 2:45 a.m. on St. Marks Place, according to investigators.
Authorities say the victim, a 32-year-old man, was stabbed in the stomach after the dispute escalated. He was taken to a hospital and was listed in stable condition.
Surveillance video released by police shows the suspect wearing what appeared to be a Halloween costume, with a skull mask pushed to the side and his face visible. No arrest has been announced.
What police say happened on St. Marks Place
The stabbing unfolded after an argument between the two men, police said. The exact reason for the dispute has not been made public, but investigators say it turned physical in the early morning hours on a busy East Village block.
St. Marks Place is a well-known nightlife corridor in Lower Manhattan, lined with bars, restaurants and pedestrian traffic. The time of the attack suggests the area was still active when the encounter took place.
Police have not said whether the men knew each other before the incident. They also have not released any additional description of the suspect beyond the images captured on surveillance video.
Video shows suspect in skull mask costume
The image authorities chose to release is one of the clearest clues in the search. In the video, the suspect appears to be wearing a Halloween-style outfit with a skull mask, though the mask is pushed aside enough to show his face.
Police released the footage as part of their effort to identify and locate the man. In cases like this, surveillance video can help investigators trace where a suspect went after leaving the scene and whether anyone nearby may have seen him.
No name has been publicly connected to the suspect, and police have not said whether they believe the costume was worn to conceal his identity or was part of a larger event or gathering in the area.
The victim was hospitalized in stable condition
Authorities said the 32-year-old victim was stabbed in the stomach, a wound that can be especially serious depending on the depth and location of the injury. He was transported to a hospital shortly after the attack.
Police said he was in stable condition, which indicates he was receiving treatment and not believed to be in immediate danger at the time of the update. No further information about his identity or recovery has been released.
Officials also have not said whether any witnesses were interviewed at the scene or whether investigators recovered a weapon. Those details may become important as detectives continue to piece together the sequence of events.
No arrest announced as the investigation continues
As of the latest update, police had not announced any arrest in the case. The investigation remains active, and officers are still trying to identify the suspect shown in the released video.
Authorities often rely on public tips in fast-moving assault investigations, especially when surveillance images provide a partial face view or distinctive clothing. In this case, the skull mask and costume may stand out to people who were in the neighborhood overnight.
Police have not said whether they are seeking anyone else in connection with the stabbing. They also have not described any additional evidence that might point to a motive.
East Village violence draws renewed attention to late-night safety
The attack adds to concern about late-night violence in parts of Manhattan that draw heavy crowds on weekends. St. Marks Place, in particular, is known for nightlife activity and can be crowded into the early morning hours.
While this case remains limited to the details released by police, it underscores how quickly an argument can turn dangerous in a public setting. A single confrontation was enough to send one man to the hospital and trigger a manhunt in one of the city’s busiest neighborhoods.
Investigators have not indicated whether the incident was random or targeted. For now, the focus remains on identifying the suspect and learning what led to the stabbing.