Harlem Street Vendor, 72, Dies After Confronting Thief: Police

HARLEM, NY — A 72-year-old Harlem street vendor died Tuesday after getting into an argument with a possible thief, and police asked the public to help identify a person of interest.

The dispute occurred Tuesday afternoon on Frederick Douglass Boulevard at 126th Street, when the vendor confronted someone who had tried to grab an object from his table, according to a police source.

Police identified the vendor as William Welcome, a Harlem resident who lived on Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard.

Welcome was pushed to the ground during the confrontation, and collapsed again shortly afterwards, according to the New York Post, which first reported on the case.

Witnesses called 911 around 4:08 p.m., and paramedics found Welcome lying unresponsive on the sidewalk. He was taken to Harlem Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The Medical Examiner will determine Welcome's cause of death, police said.

Wednesday afternoon, police released a surveillance photo showing a man being sought in connection with Welcome's death. Police described the man as a dark-skinned adult, medium build, with short, black hair and facial hair, last seen wearing a black hoodie, black pants and a white face mask under his chin.

Police asked anyone with information about the incident to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). People can also submit tips online or on Twitter, @NYPDTips.