'My dad's a bull, like old-school men. They don't make them like they used to': Father, 68, and son stabbed while fighting thugs who attacked, robbed woman

A 68-year-old man and his son were stabbed while intervening in an attack and robbery on a woman in front of their New York City pizzeria over the weekend — and not only did they hold down two of the attackers until police arrived, but the father and son walked themselves to a hospital afterward, WABC-TV reported.

What are the details?

Police told the station a 61-year-old woman was pushing a grocery cart outside Louie's Pizzeria & Restaurant in the Elmhurst neighborhood of Queens just before 9 p.m. Saturday.

Image source: WABC-TV video screenshot

WABC said the Korean woman didn't want to appear on camera but told the station she remembers being pushed from behind, knocked to the ground, having her bag stolen, and then being stabbed.

Louie Suljovic — a 38-year-old military veteran — told the station from his hospital bed that he was working behind the counter at Louie's with his father, Charlie, when the attack took place.

"My father noticed it first, that the woman was attacked, and she was on the floor, and my understanding was he heard screaming," Suljovic told WABC. "So he went after them and yelled my name. Once I heard my name, we both chased them down the block."

Image source: WABC-TV video screenshot

Louie Suljovic was stabbed while fighting the attackers, but his dad was stabbed in the back nine times, the station said, adding that they both suffered collapsed lungs.

"Trying to take a breath, but it's hard to take a real breath, and you feel like a bubbling inside," Louie Suljovic told WABC before heaping praise on his father.

"My dad's a bull, like old-school men," he told the station. "They don't make them like they used to."

Image source: WABC-TV video screenshot

The Suljovics held down two of the three suspects until police arrived, WABC said, and then the father and son walked themselves to the emergency room at Elmhurst Hospital across the street.

What happened to the woman?

Louie Suljovic said the woman suffered a long gash and was losing a lot of blood, the station reported, adding that she doesn't know what her assailants said to her due to a language barrier.

What happened to the suspects?

Robert Whack, 30, is facing charges of second-degree attempted murder, assault, robbery, criminal possession of a weapon, and possession of a controlled substance, Fox News said.

Whack told officers that after the woman began screaming, "Honestly I didn't know what to do, so I just stabbed him [sic]," the cable network said, citing the criminal complaint.

Police also found 39 heroin packets and a bloody knife on Whack, Fox News said, adding that a judge set his bail at $250,000 or a $500,000 bond; he's due back in court April 1.

The second suspect, 18-year-old Supreme Gooding, is awaiting arraignment, Fox News said, citing a spokesperson for the Queens district attorney's office. But WABC said Gooding is charged with robbery, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon.

The third assailant remains at large, WABC said.

'The very best New York has to offer'

Police tweeted that during the pandemic, Louie's remained open and donated meals to Elmhurst Hospital staff — where they're recovering — and first responders.

"He and his father are among the very best New York has to offer," police added in the tweet. "We thank them for their bravery and wish them a speedy recovery."

A GoFundMe page was created for the Suljovics' medical expenses; nearly $140,000 has been raised as of Wednesday morning.

"People who know us in the area know our personality and what we're willing to sacrifice for everybody in our area," Louie Suljovic told WABC, adding that while they don't know if their injuries will have long-lasting effects, they'll take a few weeks off to recover and then reopen the pizzeria.