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Former New York Gov. David Paterson and his stepson were walking their dog in Manhattan on Friday night when a gang of young people allegedly attacked them.
Paterson, 70, and his stepson, 20, came across five unidentified suspects, who were possibly teenagers, climbing a fire escape on Second Avenue near East 96th Street shortly before 9 p.m., police sources told the New York Post.
The victims told the suspects to stop and began to walk away before they were attacked, according to the outlet.
NYPD said that Paterson and his stepson were “engaged in a verbal altercation with 5 unidentified individuals.”
“Following the verbal altercation, the individuals struck both victims in the face and about the body” before fleeing down 2nd Avenue, police said.
The ex-Democratic governor’s spokesperson, Sean Darcy, said in a statement that the suspects “had a previous interaction with [Paterson’s] stepson.”
“They both suffered some injuries but were able to fight off their attackers,” Darcy said.
Paterson suffered an injury to his head, and his stepson suffered a face injury, police said, noting that the former governor’s stepson’s injury was more severe.
Both victims were transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.
Darcy told Fox News Digital that Paterson and his stepson, Anthony, were sent home early Saturday morning.
“The Governor’s only request is that people refrain from attempting to use an unfortunate act of violence for their own personal or political gain,” said Darcy. “He and his wife, Mary, are thankful for the quick response time from the police and the outpouring of support they have received from people across all spectrums.”
No arrests were made in connection with the attack as of Friday night. Police have released descriptions of the suspects and requested the public’s aid in identifying them.
The first individual is described as a female with dark complexion and purple braids. She was last seen wearing light-colored pants, a dark-colored sweater and purple and black sneakers, according to police.
The second individual is described as a male with dark complexion. He was last seen wearing a blue t-shirt, a black hoodie, a hat with “New York Yankees” logo, light colored jeans and light colored sneakers.
The third individual police are searching for is described as a male with light complexion. He was last seen wearing a red t-shirt, light colored pants, light colored slippers and a black sweater tied around his waist.
The fourth suspect is described as a male with medium complexion. He was last seen wearing a gray t-shirt with a graphic on it, black pants and light colored shoes.
The fifth and final individual is described as a male with dark complexion. He was last seen wearing a t-shirt with a graphic on it, a black sweatshirt, black pants and light colored sneakers, according to NYPD.
Paterson served as governor of New York from 2008 to 2010. His wife is Mary Sliwa, the ex-wife of Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa.
Local residents said they were surprised to hear the governor was attacked and wished him well.
“It’s pretty crazy it happened here, but it kind of makes sense. There’s a decent amount of crime in this neighborhood,” said Nate Cutler.
A woman named Beth who lives nearby the crime scene said she normally feels “relatively safe” in the area.
“I don’t know what he [Paterson] was telling them to do and what unsafe way they were behaving in, but yeah, that’s just unfortunate,” she said of the incident.
Asked for her thoughts on a prominent former politician assaulted in New York in her neighborhood, Beth said, “I think I’m just going to mind my own business. Maybe he should have too.”
