A pit bull owner accused of beating a pizzeria manager into critical condition stomped repeatedly on the unconscious victim’s head — an assault so brutal a Manhattan Criminal Court judge said prosecutors would have been justified asking that the suspect be held without bail.
Tyshaun Watson allegedly put 47-year-old Zakaria El Sherief in a chokehold and then stomped his face twice as he lay unconscious in the street, prosecutors revealed Wednesday. The victim may not survive.
Watson’s lawyer asked during the suspect’s arraignment for his client to be given supervised release with no bail, but acknowledged to Judge Simiyon Haniff that the request was a “stretch.”
Haniff explained his reasoning to the suspect for agreeing to prosecutors’ request that bond be set at $500,000.
“Mr. Watson, look, the bottom line is it’s a serious case. I don’t have to tell you about that — nobody should have to endure that,” Haniff said.
“Right now, it’s allegations, I recognize that, but these are serious allegations. … This man is in the hospital, intubated, and that is serious. … I’m surprised the people aren’t asking for remand based on the condition of the [victim] at this juncture.”
Watson, 35, is due back in court Friday and is charged with attempted murder and related charges.
He followed El Sherief outside Roma Pizza in the Flatiron District, repeatedly punched him and put him in a chokehold, Assistant District Attorney Nicole Borczyk told the court.
When El Sherief appeared to fall unconscious, surveillance footage shows, Watson twice “forcefully stomps on his face,” Borczyk said.
“The victim suffered extensive injuries, including brain bleeds and internal bleeding,” Borczyk said. “He remains intubated and unresponsive to external stimuli, and his prognosis is uncertain.”
El Sherief also has facial fractures as well as bruising and swelling to the face, according to a criminal complaint. He was working the counter at the pizzeria on Fifth Ave. near W. 19th St. when he got into an argument with Watson, who entered with the unleashed dog about 9:55 p.m. on Monday, cops said.
The pizzeria’s daytime manager, who did not provide his name, said El Sherief had told Watson dogs were not allowed to be unleashed or inside the shop by order of the Health Department. That’s when Watson lost his temper, came behind the counter and began to punch the victim, according to the daytime manager.
As the clash escalated, the pit bull also attacked El Sherief and the fight spilled out onto the street, workers said.
Watson’s attorney Kristin McAlpin asked for supervised release, acknowledging to the judge it was a “stretch.” She said her client has no criminal convictions in New York, a strong work history, a military background and a stable home and relationship.
McAlpin said Watson lives in Secaucus, N.J., with his significant other and, before that, lived with his son, now 10, whom he still supports. Watson is employed as a senior sales manager for a Fifth Ave. hotel and has worked in the hospitality sector for five years. He was laid off by Apple during the COVID-19 pandemic and served in the National Guard for a decade as a chemical specialist, she said.
The lawyer said his prior arrests in Virginia were DUI-related.
“I think alcohol might be a factor in this case,” McAlpin said of the pizzeria beatdown.
In the days before the attack, Watson posted several videos on social media of him and his dog, a black pit bull named Dior, walking in New York.
The victim’s wounds were mostly inflicted by the owner and not Dior, sources said.
The dog was not hurt and was brought to Animal Care Centers of NYC, where he is undergoing a 10-day rabies observation hold.
Source Agencies
