TWO FDNY EMTS INJURED IN BRONX ASSAULT – NEW YORK | Firefighter Close Calls

A man is charged with assaulting two New York City EMTs responding to a 911 call in the Bronx, but the suspect’s loved ones said Friday the entire situation could have been avoided.

Crews were cleaning up the mess left behind at the apartment building on Sedgwick Avenue off 179th Street in the Morris Heights section, where the FDNY said four EMS workers were hurt during an encounter with 22-year-old Jose Bencosme late Thursday night.

Fire officials said two EMTs were assaulted and two were hurt while trying to help their injured colleagues. The EMS workers union, Local 2507, said a 22-year-old had to get stitches in his head and a 32-year-old needed stitches in his hand. Two other EMTs were kicked and punched, according to the union.

They are expected to be OK.

Suspect in “wrong state of mind,” girlfriend says

Bencosme, a resident of the building, was arrested and charged with two counts of assault.

His girlfriend said she made the 911 call for help after believing he took something that altered his state of mind.

“We called specifically to come calm, that our loved one is in the wrong state of mind and we just want to help him, not to harm him,” the woman told CBS News New York.

EMS worker assaults

Greco said EMS workers are getting assaulted at higher rates than any other workers in the fire department.

“This happens every day at EMS,” he said. “I don’t think anyone is paying any attention, nor does anyone care.”

Greco said more than 90% of workplace violence incidents across the department in 2024 involved EMS. He said he’s urging city leaders to increase funding for things like pay, stress debriefing and counseling.

“We are on our own, and we have kids out there. They are in their low 20s, and they don’t know the trauma they are facing. They are 23 and 24 years old,” he said. “We need the city to step up.”

“I’ve said time and again that whenever there is a call that comes into emergency services with the threat of violence, that a police officer should and would be present for that,” New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said.