An 83-year-old man who was badly hurt during an assault and robbery inside his Greenwich Village home battled for two weeks in the hospital before succumbing to his injuries, police said.
Joseph Sibilla was pronounced dead Tuesday evening as a result of the injuries he suffered during the April 29 attack at his home on West 12th Street. On that April day, police responded to a 911 call of a man assaulted and found Sibilla, beaten and in serious condition. His wallet had been stolen.
Emergency personnel rushed Sibilla to Beth Israel Hospital, but he would ultimately not survive. No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.
Neighbors of the beloved Sibilla, affectionately known as “Joe” in his Greenwich Village neighborhood, hope the attacker is caught soon.
“Who would do such a thing?” asked Nancy Kremsdorf, a friend of the victim.
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Kremsdorf and others on the block describe Sibilla as active. He walked with a cane, but was often seen strolling with and picking up after his dog.
Sibilla was once a pilot and psychologist. He belonged to a singing and dancing seniors’ group called “The Showstoppers.”
His wife died a few years ago. Sibilla was in the process of selling his apartment and moving into an assisted living home.
The man who attacked Sibilla is described as 35 to 40 years old and 5’7” with a thin build. On the day of the attack, surveillance video shows him wearing a dark coat, blue jeans and a blue and green baseball cap as he exits the building.
Anyone with information about the suspect or the crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1 800 577 TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
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