Man Punches Elderly NYC Store Owner After Being Asked To Wear Mask: Police

A man in New York was caught on camera attacking a 68-year-old store owner three weeks ago after the elderly proprietor told him to wear a face mask, authorities said Wednesday.

The unnamed shopper, who entered Kaufman's Army & Navy Store on West 42nd Street just before 6 p.m. on Nov. 20, became upset when the store's owner asked him to put a mask on, the New York Daily News reported, citing police.

The man argued with the owner and an employee before being asked to leave the store, which resulted in him shoving and punching the elderly proprietor, police said.

The unmasked man shouted at the owner and got into his face before attacking him, surveillance footage shared by the New York Police Department (NYPD) showed.

The store owner reportedly suffered a bloody bruise and was taken to Lenox Hill Healthplex following the incident.

The belligerent customer fled in a taxi, according to police.

Authorities urged people with information about the man to contact the NYPD Crime Stoppers.

The attacker was described as a white man with a light beard and a tattoo on his right hand. He was seen wearing a dark-colored baseball hat, black hooded jacket, red Nike shirt, blue jeans, and black boots on the day of the attack.

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A similar incident happened at a New York City Apple store in October when one of the establishment's security guards was stabbed after enforcing a COVID-19 mask policy.

An unidentified man started to attack the West 14th Street Apple store's security guard at around 6:20 p.m. after he was asked to put on a mask while inside the store.

The security guard was stabbed with a knife once in the forehead and once more in the left arm. The attacker also punched a female employee prior to the stabbing.

Store employees dragged the security guard inside the establishment and administered first aid.

The attacker, meanwhile, fled north along Ninth Avenue and into a subway station.

The guard was later taken by ambulance to a hospital in serious but stable condition. The other employee, who was punched, refused medical attention.

The Apple store was closed two and a half hours earlier than scheduled following the attack.

The assailant was described as a 5'6 black male in his 20s, who was seen wearing a black sweatshirt, blue jeans and a black mask.

No arrests in connection to the incident have been reported.