One man was beaten and robbed at gunpoint on Griffing Avenue and another man was brutally beaten in an attempted robbery on Robinson Parkway in separate incidents occurring within moments of each other less than a mile apart in downtown Riverhead last night.
Both men were taken by Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps to Peconic Bay Medical Center for treatment of their injuries. One man was transferred to another hospital due to the nature of potentially serious injuries to his head, according to a Riverhead Police press release issued early this morning.
Police responded to the area of Robinson Parkway near Ostrander Avenue at 8:07 p.m. last night where they found an injured man who was the victim of an attempted robbery. The victim told police he was riding his bicycle and a vehicle pulled up next to him and two men got out and assaulted him while attempted to remove his wallet, according to the report. The suspects fled when a neighbor who heard the victim’s screams for help came outside, police said.
A second robbery was reported on Griffing Avenue at about 8:30 p.m. The victim in that robbery told police he walking down the street when a vehicle drove past him and stopped. Numerous men got out of the vehicle and surrounded him. One subject displayed a gun and struck the him in the face with the gun, police said. The suspects continued to assault the victim and removed a bag and money from his person before leaving the scene in an unknown direction, according to the report.
The victim was transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center for injuries sustained during the robbery. The injuries do not appear to be life-threatening at this time, police said.
Police did not provide descriptions of the vehicle(s) or of the assailants, except to say that they were black males. Police also did not provide the specific location of the attack on Griffing Avenue, which stretches from West Main Street to Pulaski Street.
Police believe both incidents may be related and the investigation is ongoing, according to the press release. Anyone with information or who may have witnessed either incident is asked to contact the Riverhead Police Department, at 631-727-4500. All calls will remain confidential, police said.
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