Subway Panhandler Fractures Man's Skull With Metal Pipe: NYPD

TRIBECA, NY — Police are searching for a panhandler who bashed a subway rider in the head with a metal pipe, fracturing his skull and breaking his eye socket, after the two got into a fight on a Tribeca train, authorities said Sunday.

The two men argued aboard a southbound 2 train near West Broadway and Chambers Street at roughly 11:15 p.m. Saturday when the fight turned physical, police said. The suspect, who cops said was panhandling on the train prior to the attack, shouts at the 59-year-old victim before pulling out a metal pipe and whacking the man the in face, video shows.

It is unclear what the two men were arguing about. Emergency responders took the victim to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition. The unhinged panhandler fled the train and was last seen wearing a black hat, a blue t-shirt and dark pants, police said.

Photos courtesy of NYPD