Brutal Bronx Beating Caught on Tape

The NYPD released really disturbing surveillance footage showing two men beating a man outside a Bronx apartment building.

According to the NY Post, the victim is Pelagio de La Cruz, a Boston-area radio talk show host on WESX who was visiting his children in University Heights. He was returning to their apartment building around 3:30 a.m. on Sunday, after having a few drinks at a nearby restaurant.

As de la Cruz stood at the door of the building ringing the buzzer, a surveillance camera captured one of the men approaching him from behind. As de la Cruz began to turn, the man swung a bat striking the victim on the side of the head.

As de la Cruz slumped to the ground the man proceeded to viciously strike him seven more times as he lay on the ground. A second man then comes into frame on the surveillance footage and the two can be seen rifling through the victim's pockets.

They stole a cell phone, wallet and gold chain.

The Daily News reports that police believe the suspects were cruising for an "easy target." After 30-45 minutes, a passerby noticed him and called 911. De La Cruz "has not regained consciousness, suffered several broken bones in his face... will need to undergo extensive reconstructive surgery" and "may also lose an eye." The station manager for WESX, a Spanish-language station, said, "“He is a friendly guy who likes chatting with everybody and anybody. He is very outspoken, very friendly and humble.”

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By Jen Chung in News on September 20, 2008 8:58 AM

Comments [rss]

everyAframe

Annnnnd 2 black thugs from the bronx smashed an old man's face to steal his chain.

I'm sure it's just another coupe a black 20-somethings thinking: "Fck it, may as well beat and kill people, all we're gonna get is a slap on the wrist from the judge and a record deal if we do it more times that our loser black thug friends."

It's why I'm the one liberal amongst my friends who generally doesn't get up in arms when the cops get their hits in. The courts don't even the score, that's for sure.

Spirit of 76

Oops. I meant "enunciate," not "enunicate."

Ace

This seems to be more of a planned hit than a robbery.

sharpshoota

No regard for human life why. Bugs like that need to be exterminated.

emilydickinson

I'll never understand that kind of mugger. They could have easily just grabbed his stuff without beating him with a bat, there's no need for that kind of violence.

That's the kind of person who really is beyond help and should just be guillotined in Union Square.

Jen Chung

This video is gruesome--why a bat? Why so many times? Why in the first place?

Kojak

Such togetherness brings tears to my eyes BH. God Bless America

"a surveillance camera captured one of the men approaching him from behind"

There won't be any cameras in prison when one of their fellow inmates approaches the perps from behind and orders them to drop their pants.

babyhitler

it's scary that there is actually a human being that's underneath that video getting pummeled that you can't see. The good news is that it's a black guy and a hispanic guy WORKING Together. Getting past their Multicultural differences and becoming a team

Spirit of 76

The video is certainly disturbing. How anyone can have such low regard for human life is beyond my imagination.

The voiceover was distracting, though. Who decided it would be a good idea to let that woman talk? The way she slurs her words and drops consonents makes her hard to understand sometimes. Enunicate, girl!