Man Who Attacked Inwood Catcallers Arrested, Police Say

INWOOD, NY — A man accused of attacking two men on an Inwood street, leaving one seriously injured, is facing felony charges.

Branlee Gonzalez, an 18-year-old Bronx resident, was arrested Monday and charged with two counts of first-degree assault and two counts of second-degree assault, police told Patch. Gonzalez is accused of attacking a 69-year-old and a 39-year-old early Thursday morning after the two men catcalled Gonzalez's girlfriend, police said.

The assault occurred around 3:30 a.m. Thursday in in front of a Supermarket on Sherman Avenue between Dyckman and Academy streets, police said. Surveillance video released by police captured the attack.

The NYPD video shows a man police have identified as Gonzalez throw what appears to be a sucker punch at one of the seated victims before launching a hail of punches. When the other victim attempts to get involved in the fight, he too is punched in the head several times. During the assault, a woman can be seen attempting to pull Gonzalez away from the two victims.

The 69-year-old victim suffered serious head trauma and was taken to Saint Barnabus hospital, police said. He is likely to survive, police told Patch. The 39-year-old victim suffered bruising and refused medical attention at the scene of the crime, police said.

Photo/video by NYPD