A man who was brutally stabbed and beaten on a Bronx subway platform this week had just wished his attackers a happy New Year, the NYPD said.
The 29-year-old victim — identified by sources as Carlos Pilliza — was standing on the southbound D train platform at the 182nd Street-183rd Street station in Fordham Heights around 8:45 p.m. New Year’s Day when four strangers walked up to him, authorities said.
“Happy New Year,” Pilliza greeted the crew – who then began arguing with him, according to cops.
The verbal clash erupted into violence and the group of men pummeled Pilliza in the face and body, police said.
Then, one of the attackers whipped out “an unknown sharp object” and stabbed the victim multiple times all over his body, cops said.
Pilliza was rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital, where cops initially said he was critically injured, but his condition was later upgraded to serious but stable.
In a brief phone interview Thursday afternoon, Pilliza’s father — who shares his name — told The Post that his son is still hospitalized and recovering “little by little.”He’s unsure how many operations his son will have to undergo but said he has injuries to his neck and elsewhere.
“He is talking a little,” the victim’s father said. “He just said ‘Happy New Year,’ and then four people were fighting him.”
“It’s a terrible thing,” he added.
His assailants fled on foot, according to police officials, who released photos of the still-at-large brutes late Wednesday.
All of the suspects appear to be about 5-foot-8, cops said.
Police describe one of them as having braided hair and a slim build, with a medium complexion.
The victim wished the suspects a happy New Year before the brutal underground attack, cops said. NYPDHe was last seen wearing a black jacket with a red hoodie, multi-colored sneakers and black pants.
Another suspect, who wore glasses and also sported braided hair, is described as having a dark complexion.
He was last seen wearing a black jacket with a gray hoodie, black and gray sneakers and black pants.
The victim was repeatedly punched before one member of the crew stabbed him all over his body, cops said. FNTVThe third member of the crew is described as having long hair and a dark complexion.
He was last seen wearing red and black checkerboard-style pants, and a red and black jacket with multi-colored designs.
The final suspect also had long hair, a slim build and a dark complexion, cops said.
He was last seen wearing a black jacket, black pants, a black ski mask and black sneakers.
The victim was initially listed in critical condition, but his condition has since been updated to serious but stable. FNTVPolice said Tuesday morning that “multiple individuals” were taken into custody for questioning.
But on Thursday morning, authorities were unable to confirm if anyone was initially in custody but later released.
