Man assaulted outside party in Elmont

A party at a Troy Avenue home became the sight of a vicious assault in the early morning hours on Sunday, Jan. 17, police said.

At about 1:25 a.m., a 20-year-old man police have yet to identify left a home on Troy Avenue in Elmont, preparing to go home after a party. He had been involved in an argument at the party a short time earlier, and was on his way home, when he was jumped by a group of black men, all apparently between the ages of 18 and 20.

The victim was thrown to the ground, where he was beaten and kicked by his assailants, before being stabbed in the chest three times with the same knife by an unknown attacker, detectives reported. Once the victim struggled his way up off the ground, several men continued to punch and kick him as he ran away.

Finally, as the victim was fleeing from the group, another unknown assailant drew a handgun and shot him once in the leg.

Partygoers and witnesses in the area called police, which dispersed the group of attackers, and an ambulance arrived shortly thereafter. The victim was transported in the ambulance to a local hospital where he was declared in stable condition.

At this time, police said, the victim's injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

The brutal assault is being investigated by detectives, but no arrests have been made at this time.

In 2009, according to statistics released by the police department, felony assaults in the Fifth Precinct were up by 27 percent. 107 assaults occurred last year, compared to just 84 the year before. No information has been released by the department as to the crime statistics in the Fifth Precinct in 2010. The Fifth Precinct encompasses all of Elmont and Franklin Square, as well as West Hempstead and Valley Stream. Residents in both Elmont and Franklin Square have held meetings over the last several months in response to the perceived rise in violent crime and robberies in the area, though Nassau County officials maintain that crime is down overall.

Police are asking anyone with any information about the incident to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244- TIPS (8477). All callers will remain confidential.