New York police have released footage of a suspect they are seeking in connection with a knife attack in the East Village, which left Kelsey Grammer’s daughter needing hospital treatment.
The brief clip shows a bald black man in a white t-shirt and black shorts.
He appears to be at the door to The Black Ant, the restaurant in the East Village.
New York Police Department released footage of the man the want to speak to about the attack
The man is seen apparently trying to enter The Black Ant restaurant in the East Village
Spencer Grammer, 36, was dining with a male companion at The Blank Ant when an intoxicated male wandered onto the premises and demanded a table around 11.30pm.
The man reportedly began arguing with employees when he was rebuffed, and the incident soon turned physical.
Spencer – who is best known for voicing the character Summer Smith in the popular animated series Rick and Morty – then jumped in to try and diffuse the situation.
At that point, the drunk man pulled out a knife and slashed her arm.
Spencer’s dinner date, Jan Phillip Mueller, was also injured after trying to pull the knifeman away.
‘Everyone jumped out of their seats. About 15 people maybe. Everyone was trying to pull them apart, It looked like there was a full on brawl,’ one eyewitness told The New York Post.
The pair were taken to Bellevue Hospital where they were treated for their injuries before being released.
‘My friend and I did what anyone else would do in the same situation,’ said Spencer, in a statement to Us Weekly.
‘Several others, predominantly women, were also attempting to prevent the altercation from escalating.
‘I sustained a laceration on my arm, and my friend was stabbed in the back, but thankfully he suffered no serious internal injuries. We expect to recover quickly.
‘We want to thank the first responders and the staff at Bellevue Hospital, who provided us with excellent care. They fought an incredible battle this year. It was very moving for us to have the opportunity to thank them in person.’
Kelsey Grammer’s actress daughter, Spencer (left) was taken hospital on Friday night
Their attacker is still at large after fleeing from the scene.
The NYPD said in a statement: ‘On Friday, July 24, 2020 at approximately 2328 hours, in front of 60 2nd Ave, a 36-year-old female victim and a 32-year-old male attempted to break up a dispute between the unidentified male and other patrons at the location.
‘During the altercation, the 36-year-old female victim was slashed in her forearm and the 32-year-old male was slashed in the back by the male with an unidentified sharp instrument.
‘The male fled the location in an unknown direction. The victims were transported to NYC Health & Hospitals/Bellevue and treated for non-life threatening lacerations.’
A group of mask-clad diners are seen outside The Black Ant shortly after the fight
One witness recorded the aftermath of the incident and shared it online
Another witness claimed the man used a ‘pocket knife’ to attack Spencer and her dinner date.
The witness says the pair both suffered ‘deep’ wounds.
Several NYPD squad cars were filmed on the scene shortly after the attack.
Spencer has not yet publicly commented on the incident, but has turned Instagram account to private.
The violent incident comes as New York City struggles with a shocking surge in violent crime after Mayor Bill de Blasio cut the NYPD budget by $1 billion.
Last week, shootings were up of 253 percent in comparison to last year. Among those hit by bullets was a one-year-old boy in a stroller who was killed.
For the month of June, murders were up 30 per cent year-on-year, while robberies rose 118 per cent.
Spencer Grammer – who is mom to an eight-year-old son named Emmett – is reportedly enrolled as a film student at Columbia University on Manhattan’s Upper West Side
Spencer – who is mom to an eight-year-old son named Emmett – is reportedly enrolled as a film student at Columbia University on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
The actress is the oldest of Kelsey’s Grammer’s seven children.
Kelsey – who is best known for starring in Cheers and it’s hit spin-off Frasier – has been married four times.
In addition to Spencer, 65-year-old Kelsey is father to Kandace Greer, 28; Mason, 18; Jude, 15; Faith, eight; Kelsey, six; and Auden, three.
Spencer is the oldest of Kelsey Grammer’s seven children. Her father is best known for his role in iconic TV sitcoms, Cheers and Frasier