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Police: Teens attack off-duty NYC firefighter trying to protect couple; 1 arrested

NEW YORK — An off-duty New York City firefighter was attacked Saturday morning as he tried to defend an elderly couple from a group of teenagers, WABC reported.

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Update 11:02 p.m. EDT May 23:  New York police said Thursday a 17-year-old boy was arrested and charged with assault in connection with Saturday morning's attack of an off-duty firefighter, WCBS reported.

The boy was among six teens accused of punching John Mongielo, 38, in Manhattan, the television station reported. Mongielo told the teens to stop harassing an elderly couple, but he was allegedly attacked and suffered a concussion and broken teeth, police said.

Original report: The 38-year-old firefighter intervened at 9:25 a.m., when police said the teens were harassing the couple in Manhattan's Upper East Side, WPIX reported.

According to police, one of the teens punched the firefighter, striking him throughout his body, the television station reported.

The man suffered a concussion and had five broken teeth, WABC reported. He also needed 25 stitches for his wounds, the television station reported.

Police released surveillance video that shows the teens, believed to be between 15 and 17 years old, smiling as they skipped down the sidewalk, WNBC reported.