Video shows man being chased, attacked and rescued in Washington Heights cafe

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, Manhattan (WABC) – The owner of a Washington Heights coffee shop is being hailed as a hero for helping to rescue a man who was attacked and stabbed by a group of men on Tuesday.

Juan Reyes, the operator of Milo Coffee Shop, had just opened his business before 6:30 a.m. when a shirtless man ran through the door, running for his life.

The man who was attacked had been chased from the Bronx across the 181st Street Bridge.

“He came running and seven people chased him,” Reyes told Eyewitness News. “Four of them came in and followed the guy to the back.”

In the chaotic scene, captured on surveillance video, baristas jumped over the counter and friends and family from neighboring stores came to help.

Reyes grabbed whatever he could find nearby to defend himself and stop the men with knives from killing the man who ran in. He had never seen any of them before.

“They stabbed him seven times,” Reyes added. “It was just two guys stabbing him nonstop. They were determined to take his life with hatred.”

The 39-year-old victim suffered a serious neck injury and was taken to Harlem Hospital.

According to police, no arrests have been made so far.

The near-fatal incident was another example of violence pouring through the door of a company that had nothing to do with it.

“If I don’t act, he would definitely be dead,” Reyes said.

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