Merengue Singer Attacked In Washington Heights, Officials Say

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — A popular merengue singer was hospitalized after being attacked by a group of teenagers in Washington Heights, city and police officials said.

Javier Gutierrez, 43, also known by his stage name "Mala Fe," was attacked Saturday night, an NYPD spokesman said. Gutierrez, of New Jersey, was riding in a van around 8:30 p.m. near West 180th Street and Audubon Avenue when he got into a confrontation with a group of teenagers who were obstructing the road, police said.

The teenagers refused to leave the street and eventually became violent, police said. Gutierrez exited his vehicle when one of the teenagers broke a window and was jumped by the group, police said. Gutierrez was hit with a wooden stick and punched and kicked and his 28-year-old driver was slashed, police said.

Gutierrez was hospitalized after the attack and is expected to recover from his injuries police said. He was in Washington Heights Saturday to pick up musicians for a performance, City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez will hold a press conference Monday afternoon to call for justice for Gutierrez. The city councilman said in a press release that a gang is likely responsible for the attack.

The teenagers fled the scene of the attack and one 17-year-old has since been arrested and charged with assault, police said.

Photo by Patch