A disturbing new video captures the shocking moment a violent career criminal attacked his victim in a fatal subway incident in Brooklyn, repeatedly stamping on the defenseless man, delivering more than a dozen blows that rendered him unconscious.
The victim, 64-year-old Nicola Tanzi, was powerless against the assailant David Mazariegos, who allegedly can be seen in the harrowing footage arriving at the Jay Street-MetroTech subway station on Tuesday, where he immediately punched the Italian immigrant twice in the face, knocking him to the ground.
Mazariegos, who is currently facing five open criminal trials, further escalated the attack by brutally kicking Tanzi in the face while he lay incapacitated on the ground, as shown in the video.
<pLater, the assailant told authorities that he took Tanzi’s “spirit” because he was displeased with the way the victim looked at him, according to prosecutors.
This unprovoked assault unfolded right after Tanzi had the door open for Mazariegos.
“He then proceeded to stomp on the victim not just once or twice, but repeatedly, even when the victim was entirely limp,” stated Assistant District Attorney Shena Aishnani during the suspect’s arraignment last week. “Despite the victim being completely unconscious, the defendant continued his assault.”
Aishnani noted, “Upon being interviewed by police, the defendant admitted to beating the victim, robbing him, and taking his spirit, as he articulated.”
Mazariegos faces first-degree murder charges in connection to the horrific attack.
Prosecutors reported that Tanzi, a devout Catholic and member of an Italian club in Carroll Gardens, sustained multiple serious injuries, including skull fractures and facial trauma, leading to his death just hours later.
<pThe Italian immigrant was an active parishioner at St. Dominic’s, his family revealed.
“Nicky possessed a kind heart and was always the optimistic type, consistently caring about others,” recalled John Heyer, deacon at Sacred Hearts & St. Stephen Roman Catholic Church in Carroll Gardens.
“I believe he would have been inclined to help and forgive the person who did this and would have sought to get them the assistance they needed.”
Mazariegos was arrested shortly after the incident and was seen bizarrely grinning at journalists before being charged and held without bail at Rikers Island.
Records indicate he has five open cases in terms of petty larceny, identity theft, criminal mischief, and assault across Manhattan and the Bronx.
