Suspect in Lexington Ave. Elder Assault Arrested & Indicted

The suspect wanted in connection with a vicious, unprovoked elder assault days before Thanksgiving has been arrested and indicted. His name is Xavier Winston, 34, of the Bronx.

Though the original incident wasn’t the type that gets much press attention, it was the type of quotidian horror that could befall any of us at any time: to be randomly attacked on a neighboorhood street most people consider safe.

NYPD took the case seriously, however, and issued a Crime Stoppers notice about the attack, asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the then-unknown individual wanted in connection with an assault that occurred within the confines of the 19th Precinct. Details were as follows:

It was reported to police that on Monday, Nov. 24, at approximately 9:39 a.m., a 67-year-old male victim was in the vicinity of Lexington Avenue and East 87th Street when he was approached by an unidentified individual.

The unidentified individual punched the victim in the face, causing swelling and bruising, and then slammed his cellphone to the ground multiple times.

The unidentified individual then fled the location on foot, traveling southbound on Lexington Avenue.

The victim sustained a minor injury and was not hospitalized as a result of this incident.

The sought individual was described as a male with a dark complexion and black hair. He was last seen wearing a black jacket, black pants, and black sneakers.

Because the east side of Lexington Avenue and East 87th is well known as the location of the Bocado Cafe and Eli’s Essentials, the Zabar’s spinoff that now has three Upper East Side locations, it was hoped that someone in the vicinity knew something.

Fast-forward a week and, thanks to investigative means known only to themselves, cops from the 19th Precinct had caught their man.

Even without details, the fact of NYPD’s apprehension of Winston is notable as one of innumerable examples of cops doing their job to no public accolades. Indeed, even NYPD itself remained quiet on the arrest, which Straus News learned about only by asking the department’s press office if there was update on the case—and indeed there was!

Winston, 36, of 2440 Walton Ave. in the East Fordham section of the Bronx, was arrested on the morning of Dec. 1. He was arraigned that same day in New York Criminal Court at 100 Centre St. and charged with 2nd Degree Assault with intent to injure a victim 65 or older (aka Elder Assault) and Third Degree Criminal Mischief, for theft of property greater than $250.

That’s the good news. The second part of Winston’s appearance in court that day is open to individual interpretation.

After pleading not guilty, Judge Jeffrey A. Gershuny released Winston on his own recognizance, meaning no bail.

Winston’s next scheduled court date is Jan. 12, 2026.