Brooklyn man faces homicide charges after fatally beating friend over ATM card dispute

Victim dragged naked to stairwell and left for dead; suspect already on bail for previous assault.

Brooklyn resident Leonard Isaacs, 68, succumbed to his injuries on December 19, nearly seven weeks after a brutal beating by a friend who accused him of stealing an ATM card. The incident, which occurred in Coney Island, has now been ruled a homicide by the city Medical Examiner.

The tragedy unfolded on the evening of November 2, when Isaacs visited the apartment of 58-year-old Darryl Wright on W. 24th St. near Surf Ave. Wright, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 262 pounds, confronted Isaacs with receipts from unauthorized ATM transactions, accusing him of theft.

According to prosecutors, Wright forced Isaacs to strip to prove he had no money. When Isaacs was found to be penniless, Wright allegedly launched a violent assault, punching and beating the older man.

Surveillance footage captured Wright dragging a naked and severely injured Isaacs out of his apartment and leaving him in a stairwell. The victim suffered extensive injuries, including brain bleeding, bruising, and multiple fractures.

Emergency responders arrived around 9 p.m. and transported Isaacs to NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn in critical condition. He remained hospitalized until his death.

 

Police arrested Wright the day after the attack, charging him with attempted murder. A Brooklyn Criminal Court judge ordered him held without bail, and he remains in custody pending his next court appearance on January 16.

At the time of the beating, Wright was already out on bail for a prior assault. In July, he allegedly attacked another friend over a money dispute, and bail in that case had been set at $50,000. Wright’s attorney, Morris Shamuil, defended his client’s actions in the earlier case, claiming the fight occurred after the victim used money owed to Wright to purchase crack cocaine.

With Isaacs’ death now confirmed, Wright may face upgraded charges, including murder.

The Honey Island community is reeling from the horrific details of the case. Isaacs, who lived just a few blocks from Wright, is remembered as a quiet and kind individual. Neighbors expressed disbelief at the savagery of the attack and called for justice.

Wright, whose violent history is now under scrutiny, could face significant prison time if convicted.

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