An 82-year-old man tragically passed away several weeks after a disturbing incident in Manhattan, where he was violently shoved to the ground by an elderly neighbor. The victim, Dean Conover Whetzel, was reportedly pushed by 79-year-old Dana Escoffier during an altercation that occurred when the two men accidentally collided while walking in the West Village on October 11.
According to witnesses and police sources, Escoffier admitted to pushing Whetzel after the collision, claiming that he did so because Whetzel had bumped into him. The incident took place on Hudson Street near West 11th Street, and after shoving Whetzel, Escoffier fled the scene. An eyewitness followed Escoffier and directed the police to him, leading to his arrest.
Whetzel was found unconscious with a swollen eye and a head laceration by responding officers and was immediately taken to NYC Health/Hospitals/Bellevue in critical condition. Despite medical efforts, Whetzel succumbed to his injuries three weeks later. The medical examiner’s office determined his death as a homicide on November 6.
It was revealed that Whetzel and Escoffier were not acquainted with each other and lived in close proximity to one another in the neighborhood. Escoffier was initially charged with assault and aggravated harassment in October but was later released. It remains uncertain whether he will face additional charges in connection with Whetzel’s death.
Escoffier is scheduled to appear in court on December 4th for further proceedings. Attempts to reach Escoffier for comment were unsuccessful at the time of reporting. The tragic incident serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of conflict resolution and peaceful interactions in our communities.
