Former New York Gov. David Paterson and his stepson were attacked on a Manhattan sidewalk Friday evening by a group of teenagers, according to police officials.
Paterson was with his 20-year-old stepson Anthony Chester Sliwa, who was walking his dog on Second Avenue near East 96th Street on the Upper East Side, sources who spoke with the family said. That's when they noticed three teens playing around on a fire escape and told them to get down, law enforcement sources told NBC New York.
The teens came down and followed the former governor and his stepson to the corner, in front of a McDonald's on Second Avenue, where they attacked them, sources said. Sliwa was punched in the face during the attack, according to police officials.
Both were taken to NY-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, after suffering minor bumps and bruises. Paterson, 70, was hit several times during the attack, two sources said, but appeared to be OK and was alert late Friday night. His stepson suffered more severe cuts and bruises, and possibly a concussion, but sources said he was expected to recover.
Paterson's stepson Anthony is the son of Guardian Angels founder and former Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa, who confirmed that his son was attacked. Sliwa said he was grateful his son was recovering.
A spokesperson for the former governor released a statement saying the attack occurred near Paterson's home, and the teens "had a previous interaction with his stepson."
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"They both suffered some injuries but were able to fight off their attackers. They are currently at Cornell Hospital as a precaution. They have already filed a police report and no further information is available at this time," the statement read. A second statement released Saturday morning said that Paterson and his stepson had been released from the hospital, and he thanked police for their "quick response time."
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The three teens who attacked Paterson and his stepson took off immediately afterward. Police were searching for them.
CORRECTION: Police sources initially stated that Paterson was with his son at the time of the attack. He was with his stepson, Anthony Chester Sliwa.
