An unhinged man hit a 2-year-old child in the face with a suitcase in Lower Manhattan on Monday night, police said.
The toddler was walking with her mother near the corner of Bowery and Stanton Street when the random attack occurred at about 6:25 p.m., according to cops.
The youngster suffered a small laceration and was treated at the scene by EMS, police said.
The 30-year-old suspect was taken into custody after the attack, police and sources said. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital for psychiatric evaluation.
The baby’s father, Martin Fleurant, 52, spoke out against the senseless violence.
“Attacking my child – there’s no justification,” he said. “Hit me, I can fight back, my daughter can’t.”
Fleurant said his family recently returned to their Lower East Side apartment after spending time in Brazil during the pandemic.
“We’re back two months and look at what happens. There’s no reason for that to be happening to my kid,” the father said.