Police are searching for a man in a zebra-striped jacket after a glass bottle assault left a 27-year-old victim with a fractured jaw on Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights
By Dan Gesslein
Queens Voice
January 28, 2026
QUEENS, NY - A brutal early-morning assault in Jackson Heights, Queens has police searching for a suspect known for a distinctive zebra-striped jacket after a man was seriously injured during a street confrontation.
According to the NYPD, the incident happened around 4:12 a.m. on Friday, January 23, 2026, in front of 81-09 Roosevelt Avenue, a busy corridor that remains active even in the overnight hours.
Police say a 27-year-old man became involved in a verbal dispute with another individual on the sidewalk. What started as an argument quickly escalated when the suspect allegedly grabbed a glass bottle and smashed it across the victim’s face.
The force of the attack caused a deep facial laceration and a fractured jaw, authorities said. The suspect immediately fled the scene on foot, heading westbound on Roosevelt Avenue, leaving the injured man behind.
Emergency medical services responded to the scene and transported the victim to NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, where he was treated for his injuries and listed in stable condition.
The attack has rattled residents and business owners in the area, many of whom say violent incidents during late-night hours remain a growing concern along Roosevelt Avenue.
Police are asking for the public’s help identifying the suspect, who is described as:
- Male with a light complexion
- Wearing a red hat
- A black and white zebra-striped puffy winter jacket
- White T-shirt
- Blue jeans
- Red sneakers
The unusual jacket has led locals to nickname the suspect “Zebra Boy.”
Detectives are reviewing surveillance footage from nearby businesses and canvassing the area for witnesses. Anyone with information about the assault or the suspect’s identity is urged to contact police.
Violent assaults in Jackson Heights, Queens, particularly along Roosevelt Avenue, highlight ongoing public safety challenges in one of the city’s busiest neighborhoods. Police say timely tips from the public can play a critical role in making arrests and preventing future incidents.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, on X @NYPDTips.
All calls are confidential.
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