Children aged 12 and 13 arrested for attack on former New York Governor DAVID PATERSON

Monday, October 07, 2024 - Two boys, aged just 12 and 13, have been charged with gang assault for an attack on former governor of New York, David Paterson and his stepson.

The boys surrendered to police with their parents on Saturday night, October 5, a day after the clash near the former governor’s apartment.

The teenagers’ names have not released by cops because they are underage. A third teen also surrendered but has not been charged.

“Gov. Paterson and his family are glad to see the suspects turned themselves in,” a spokesperson for Paterson said. “We hope that the young people involved learn something from this unfortunate encounter.  The Governor is grateful to see the kids’ parents hold them to account and would also like to thank the NYPD for their strong work.”

The boys were arraigned in Manhattan Family Court on Sunday and released into the custody of their families. They are due back in court Nov. 6.

“We’ve got nothing to say,” the father of one of the suspects told News reporters after his son’s court appearance. “I’m trying to protect my son.”

Paterson talked about the assault on Sunday, describing how he and his stepson fought off a group of about nine people after his stepson quarreled with some of the attackers earlier in the evening.

Paterson, 70, who is legally blind, and his 20-year-old stepson Anthony Sliwa, the son of Guardian Angels founder and former New York Mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa were walking on Second Avenue about 8:30 p.m. Friday when the group confronted them, New York police said.

About 45 minutes earlier, Sliwa was out by himself walking his dog, Bella, and argued with three members of the group after spotting them scaling a fire escape on the side of a building, Paterson said.

Paterson and Sliwa were headed to the McDonald’s when the same three group members confronted them, flanked by about six others, Paterson said.

They argued, and a woman, who Paterson estimated to be at least in her 30s, confronted his stepson, then threw the first punch, the former governor said.

“This just wasn’t an incident involving young people who were getting out of hand,” he said.

The young Sliwa, who was scheduled to take his purple belt test at the Guardian Angels’ martial arts dojo this week, held his own but soon became overwhelmed by the number of attackers.

“I got punched in the face a couple times and I got punched in the shoulder,” Paterson said. “But the person who punched me on the shoulder, I threw them against the McDonalds window myself.”

Paterson suffered bruises and some pain to his head. Sliwa, also battered and bruised, received a cut lip that required five stitches, Paterson said.

The NYPD on Sunday released surveillance footage of five suspects in the hopes someone would recognize them.

It wasn’t immediately clear if the two teens arrested were included in those photos. Investigation continues.