A tragic incident occurred outside Brooklyn’s Barclay’s Center when a man named Michael Hernandez was brutally attacked and stabbed to death by a group of teens. The 27-year-old was walking near Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues when the assailants approached him, stabbing him once in the chest and multiple times in the back around 9 p.m. on Friday. Despite being able to initially walk away, Hernandez eventually collapsed at the intersection of Flatbush Avenue and Atlantic Avenue.
He was quickly rushed to NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, but sadly succumbed to his injuries. The shocking event unfolded in front of horrified onlookers, including Bjorn Breivik, a 55-year-old engineer who lives in an apartment overlooking the scene. He initially mistook the commotion for teenagers having fun, only to realize the gravity of the situation when police arrived at the scene.
Breivik described a scene of chaos with multiple police cars and officers responding to the incident. He noticed a puddle that he suspected was blood, highlighting the violent nature of the attack. Another witness, Frode Thorsen, a 60-year-old engineer who was walking his dog in the area, expressed shock and dismay upon learning about the murder. Despite the tragic event, Thorsen remains resolute in his safety, crediting his dog for providing protection during his late-night walks.
The senseless killing deeply affected the community, with retired professor Linda Farhood-Karasavva expressing her disgust and sadness over the incident. As a mother, she empathized with the victim’s family, highlighting the increasing frequency of such violent crimes in the city. Farhood-Karasavva lamented the deteriorating state of the city, expressing her love for New York but decrying the rise in violence that threatens its reputation.
The tragic death of Michael Hernandez serves as a grim reminder of the dangers that lurk in the city streets, leaving residents shaken and questioning the safety of their beloved metropolis. As investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the attack, the community mourns the loss of a young life and grapples with the harsh reality of violence in their midst.