A security guard at the Manhattan location of Palace Skateboards was slashed on the neck after a man tried to cut the long line outside the store Friday morning, police and witnesses said.
The 30-year-old guard was stationed outside the shop on Howard Street near Mercer Street in SoHo just after 11 a.m. when a crowd started forming to get inside, law enforcement sources said.
According to reports, a man suddenly tried to skip the line. When the guard confronted him, the situation quickly turned violent.
One person in line told reporters that the man had argued with the guard and was asked to step aside. “Then he pulled out a knife from his car, and he went at him,” the witness said.
The knife did not look large, and the attack appeared to happen in just a few seconds. The witness said the blade, which might have been a box cutter, cut the guard on the neck. At first, there was no visible blood, but it soon became clear the injury was serious. Other customers rushed to help until emergency responders and police arrived.
“I have never seen someone get so violent over something so small,” the bystander said. “It all happened really quickly. The line wasn’t even moving that slowly. People were just stunned.”
The guard was taken to Bellevue Hospital and is expected to recover.
The attacker, last seen wearing a black hoodie, black sweatpants, and a black hat, fled the scene in a Honda, police said. No arrests have been made yet.
The store did not comment when contacted Friday afternoon.
The incident happened during the launch of the brand’s spring collection at the SoHo shop. Palace Skateboards, a London-based streetwear and skateboard brand, is holding product launches at its stores in Europe and Canada on Friday, with locations in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand scheduled for Saturday.
The brand is known for bright, colorful clothing inspired by ’90s style and sportswear details, according to its website.