A pizzeria manager in Manhattan was hospitalized and is fighting for his life after a customer beat him up and the customer’s pitbull mauled him in the process.
The incident happened in the Flatiron District around 10 PM on Monday, Aug. 19, at Roma Pizza on Fifth Avenue, according to a police statement the following day. The manager was working behind the counter when Tyshaun Watson, 35, entered the establishment around 9:55 PM with an unleashed dog and the two got into a heated argument.
According to the daytime manager of Roma Pizza, who wished to remain anonymous, the victim informed Watson that dogs weren’t allowed inside the pizzeria, especially unleashed, and that it was a Health Department violation. Watson reportedly became upset and his temper rose. The daytime manager said the customer “didn’t like the way” he was spoken to and “started yelling” and “cursing” at the victim.
Watson then went behind the counter to confront the victim and started to punch him. A co-worker intervened and the fight escalated. Watson’s pitbull joined in the action and attacked the manager, who ran outside of the building to get away. Watson pursued him, grabbed the victim, and “slammed him” onto the ground, proceeding to stomp and kick him “very hard in the head.” The daytime manager said Watson did this several times and it looked like “he wanted to kill” his co-worker.
The witness said Watson then took his dog back into the pizzeria and “didn’t even run” but “just stayed inside” to wait for the police while calming his dog down as workers from the kitchen went outside to help the manager, who was unconscious and bleeding from several dog bites, according to the NYPD. Workers locked Watson inside the establishment alone until the police showed up.
The victim, later identified as Zakaira El Sherief, was rushed to Bellevue Hospital. El Sherief is reportedly still in critical condition, in a coma, and may not survive the encounter. The daytime manager said El Sherief is “a very nice guy” who “never bothered” anyone and was liked by everybody in the neighborhood.
Watson faces assault and attempted murder charges and the dog was brought to an animal care center. Watson told reporters he was “very sorry” for El Sherief. His arm was bandaged because his own dog also bit him.