DA: North Amityville Man Faces Indictment in ‘Knockout’ Attacks

A North Amityville man who tried to punch random people with a blow to the head in a violent practice known as a “knockout game” is expected to be indicted and arraigned Wednesday on assault charges, the Suffolk district attorney’s office said.

The defendant, Darryl Mitchell, 20, attacked seven residents in the North Amityville and North Babylon neighborhoods since April for no reason, said Robert Clifford, a spokesman for the district attorney.

Darryl Mitchell

The youngest victim was 17 and the oldest 69.

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Two of the latest attacks occurred Dec. 1, when two men were struck on Jefferson Avenue, the street on which Mitchell lives, Clifford said. The attacks began about 7:30 a.m. when Mitchell punched a 66-year-old man in the face, breaking his $300 eyeglasses, said Clifford. About half an hour later, Mitchell hit another man who was heading to church.

“The defendant ran up to him and suddenly punched him in the face multiple times and he fell to the ground,” Clifford said.

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On Nov. 30, a 69-year-old man was rummaging through the trunk of his car, parked on Williams Avenue in North Amityville, when he heard someone approach from behind.

“When he turned around, he was punched twice in the head,” District Attorney Thomas Spota said in a statement. “He told us he spent a couple of weeks with horrendous headaches.”

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Mitchell was arrested Dec. 4 after four of the victims identified him through photographs. He pleaded not guilty to four counts of third-degree assault at his initial arraignment, Clifford said.

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