Two Young Boys Charged in Assault on Former New York Governor David Paterson

 

Two boys, aged 12 and 13, have been charged with gang assault following an attack on former New York Governor David Paterson and his stepson, Anthony Sliwa. The boys turned themselves in to police on Saturday night, October 5, just a day after the altercation near Paterson’s apartment.

Due to their age, the names of the teenagers have not been released by authorities. A third teenager also surrendered to the police but has not been charged in connection to the incident.

A spokesperson for the former governor stated, “Gov. Paterson and his family are glad to see the suspects turned themselves in. We hope the young people involved learn something from this unfortunate encounter. The Governor is grateful to the parents for holding their children accountable and also appreciates the NYPD for their swift response.”

The boys appeared in Manhattan Family Court on Sunday and were released to their families. They are scheduled to return to court on November 6. After the court hearing, one of the boy's fathers briefly told reporters, “We’ve got nothing to say. I’m trying to protect my son.”

Governor Paterson, who is legally blind, shared details of the incident on Sunday, explaining how he and his stepson were attacked by a group of nine individuals. The confrontation occurred after Sliwa, 20, had an earlier argument with some of the attackers while walking his dog near their apartment.

According to Paterson, the altercation escalated when he and Sliwa were heading to a McDonald’s on Second Avenue around 8:30 p.m. The group, now larger, confronted them, and a woman threw the first punch. "This wasn’t just a case of young people acting out," Paterson said, emphasizing the seriousness of the attack.

Although outnumbered, Sliwa, who is preparing for a martial arts test, fought back but struggled against the group. Paterson, despite being hit several times, managed to push one of the attackers against the McDonald’s window.

Both Paterson and Sliwa sustained injuries. The former governor suffered bruises and pain to his head, while Sliwa, with a cut on his lip requiring five stitches, was also battered and bruised.