A 71-year-old doorman in Manhattan was violently attacked after refusing to let a man trespass in the building where he worked. The assailant, Moshe Dardashty, 29, attacked the elderly man after being confronted about his presence in the lobby, leaving the victim with serious injuries.
The Attack
The violent incident occurred on March 8, 2026, around midnight at an apartment building on West 88th Street. The doorman, Nicolaie Lica, known as “George” to residents, had worked at the building since 1998.
- Dardashty entered the lobby and claimed he wanted to visit a seventh-floor apartment.
- Lica, upon recognizing Dardashty as someone who had been banned from the building, politely told him he could not go up and offered to help direct him elsewhere.
- The situation escalated quickly, and Dardashty lunged at Lica.
Lica tried to retreat, but the attacker blocked his escape. He was shoved to the ground, and the assault began.
Brutal Assault
The doorman recalled the attack:
- Dardashty threw a metal ramp at Lica, striking him on the left side of his face, breaking his left eye socket and nose.
- After the metal ramp, Dardashty continued the assault, jumping on Lica and using a broom to beat him. When the broomstick snapped, Dardashty abandoned it but kept assaulting the elderly man.
- Lica pleaded for mercy, saying, “Stop, sir, it’s too much,” and called out for help, but no one heard him.
Despite the severity of the beating, Lica was able to make a phone call to police, though he was too injured to speak, and a bystander had to take over the call for him.
Victim’s Injuries and Recovery
Lica was rushed to Mount Sinai West hospital for treatment:
- He suffered a broken vertebrae and numerous other injuries, including pain in his side, arm, and back.
- Lica said he could not open his left eye and had difficulty using his right hand.
- His wife, Pauna Lica, is now his primary caregiver, administering medication and helping him with daily activities.
Despite the trauma, Lica expressed his gratitude for the support from his community, saying, “I live with hope.”
Arrest and Legal Proceedings
Dardashty, who lived just blocks from the scene, was arrested minutes after the attack and charged with:
- Assault
- Attempted assault
He was arraigned the following day and is being held on $50,000 bail.
Community Support
The outpouring of support for Lica has been overwhelming. One of the building’s tenants, Constantin Schoelkopf, started a GoFundMe campaign to help with Lica’s medical expenses.
Schoelkopf described Lica as a kind, dedicated, and hardworking doorman who was just doing his job when the attack happened. He emphasized the shock felt by the building’s residents, noting that Lica, despite his limited English, had always been there for the tenants and would often be seen cleaning and maintaining the building.
