63-Year-Old Man Assaulted In Broad Daylight In Unprovoked Attack: Stamford PD

STAMFORD, CT — A 63-year-old man walking in Stamford on Sunday afternoon was assaulted in what police are calling an "unprovoked attack."

John Rexha, 33, of Stamford, was arrested and charged in connection with the assault, Assistant Stamford Police Chief Richard Conklin said. Rexha was charged with breach of peace, third-degree assault of an elderly person, and he refused at one point to be processed at police headquarters, Conklin noted.

The attack unfolded on March 30 at approximately 3:20 p.m. on Strawberry Hill Avenue in the area of Stamford High School when a man, who was walking northbound and carrying two large grocery bags, was assaulted by another man, later identified as Rexha, who was walking the opposite direction, Conklin said.

"As he gets up to this elderly male carrying these two bags, in an unprovoked attack, he winds up and punches him twice in the head and knocks him to the ground," Conklin said. "They didn't know each other, no words were exchanged, they were just walking by each other."

Rexha, a Strawberry Hill Avenue resident who Conklin said is 6 feet 2 inches tall and about 280 pounds, was quickly apprehended by K9 Officer Mike Califano, who was driving along Strawberry Hill Avenue and witnessed the assault take place, according to Conklin.

Officers were also able to review footage of the attack from a nearby red light camera.

The victim was treated at the scene by Stamford EMS and released, Conklin said.

Officers are trying to determine why the assault took place, Conklin said.

Rexha was arrested the day before, Conklin said, noting Rexha is accused of throwing bricks through a window of a building in the 90-block of Prospect Street.