DOWNTOWN VIOLENCE: Fight breaks out at Slice of Life Pizza

Time: 2:42 a.m. – Tuesday morning
Location: 122 Market Street
Offense: Felony Assault inflicting serious injury.

Summary: A WPD officer on patrol spotted a crowd of about 15 men at Market and Front Streets, and they seemed to be involved in a verbal dispute. As the officer got out of her car, several of the men started walking away from her. Then a man approached whose face was covered with blood. He pointed out another man who he said had assaulted him. The victim said that he had been sitting inside the restaurant when several men began an argument with him and several other customers. Someone threw a glass at his face and kicked him after he fell to the floor. The officer detained the possible suspect until she could find out more about what had happened.

Then the officer heard someone yelling for EMS in front of the restaurant at 122 Market Street. A man was lying on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant (Slice of Life) with what appeared to be a serious injury to the back of his head. The second victim (the one lying on the ground) said he was assaulted outside the business by someone who hit him in the head.

Other witnesses told the officer that the altercation had started inside the restaurant and then moved out onto the street. Based on witness accounts, the officer arrested the man she had detained and charged him in connection with assaulting the victim lying on the sidewalk. The case is still under investigation, and additional charges may be filed later.

Both victims were transported to the New Hanover Regional Medical Center where they were treated and released.

ARRESTED: Sharif Anan Hassan, d.o.b. 4-1-1990, of Wilmington was charged with Assault Inflicting Serious Injury. Bond was set at $5,000.

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