17-year-old boy beaten into coma after Knicks Game 4 win outside Madison Square Garden, suspect sought by police
NEW YORK (WABC) — A teenager was beaten so badly during the celebrations outside Madison Square Garden earlier this week that he’s in a coma.
It happened following the Knicks Game 4 NBA Finals win against the San Antonio Spurs.
The 17-year-old victim was approached by a group and then attacked during a verbal dispute outside 235 West 35th Street around 11:45 p.m. Wednesday.
The fight apparently began with a content creator allegedly provoking Knicks fans.
Detectives have reviewed cellphone video that shows the content creator interviewing a member of the crowd.
The content creator asked members of the crowd, “Who do you got?” And one person said “I’ve got the Knicks.”
A person with content creator, in an apparent attempt to provoke the crowd for social media, responded, “Spurs in 7.”
The person being interviewed responded, “Go Knicks, suck my (expletive).”
A fight then ensued. Police said the group of Knicks fans challenged the content creator, and the 17-year-old victim became involved and was assaulted.
Authorities said the teen was kicked multiple times in the head and body.
He suffered a seizure and went into a coma, police said. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital in critical condition and has since been stabilized.
No arrests have been made. Police released a surveillance image of one of the people believed to be involved and are searching for others.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
———-
* Get Eyewitness News Delivered
* More Manhattan news
* Send us a news tip
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
* Follow us on YouTube
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
Copyright © 2026 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.
