HOBOKEN—Two New York men accused of carrying out a brutal early morning assault on another man at a Hoboken McDonald’s on Monday, May 25 have turned themselves into police, according to reports from the Hoboken Police Department.
The assault, for which a motive is still not known, left the male victim unconscious and seriously injured. According to Hoboken Police Chief Kenneth Ferrante, the victim remains at Jersey City Medical Center, where he has undergone three surgeries aimed at relieving “massive internal bleeding.” One surgery removed a large portion of the victim’s skull in order to reduce swelling in his brain.
The first suspect, Paul Maiolini, 26, of Carmel, N.Y., turned himself into the Hudson County Central Judicial Processing court in Jersey City on Friday, May 29, according to a statement by Hoboken police. He was assessed a $100,000 bail and taken to the Hudson County Correctional Facility, according to the report.
The second suspect, Robert Brichta, 27, of Kent, N.Y., appeared at the Hoboken police headquarters just before 2 p.m. on Monday, June 1, accompanied by his parents, according to Ferrante. Brichta was processed and given a $100,000 bail as well.
Both men face charges of aggravated assault and endangering an injured victim, police said.
Hoboken police launched a public search for the alleged assailants last Thursday, releasing videos and still images garnered from security cameras. The press release identified Maiolini as a suspect and included a photo of his face, but did not identify Brichta.
According to police, the victim had no prior relationship with the alleged attackers and did not appear to provoke an attack. In the McDonald’s security camera footage, said Ferrante, Brichta and Maiolini are waiting for their food next to the victim, and “a five-second dialogue turns into a swift, vicious assault.”
Maiolini allegedly delivered a punch to the head that knocked the victim over and rendered him unconscious, and Brichta allegedly kicked the victim in the head while he was on the ground.
After the alleged assault, police said the two men got their food and walked out of the restaurant.
Brichta turned 27 on Saturday, May 23, and police believe he was in Hoboken with Maiolini celebrating his birthday.
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