Elderly man beaten in random attack near Columbus Circle by repeat suspect: cops

A 66-year-old man was punched in the face by a stranger in an unprovoked attack near Columbus Circle on Sunday morning — at least the second time the suspect randomly assaulted a passer-by, cops said.

The victim told cops he was walking at West 57th Street and Eighth Avenue in Manhattan around 9:40 a.m. when his attacker approached him and punched him throughout his body, including his face.

The victim, who did not know the suspect, was taken to Cornell Hospital in stable condition, cops said.

Police officers canvassed the area and arrested Dwayne McPherson, 33, of Brooklyn on assault charges, according to cops.

McPherson has three prior unsealed arrests, including one from Nov. 2, 2020, when he allegedly hit a 62-year-old man in the face in an unprovoked attack in Queens, police sources said.

He also has arrests for fare evasion in July and possession of burglary tools last year.