Fact Check: People please look up the case. This kid sucker punched an off duty firefighter when stepped in to defend an elderly couple being harassed by a group of six teens. This kid had been arrested three times that year for robbery and assault. He was turned over to police by his own mother. The real hero was the firefighter.

Published April 23, 2025

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VERDICT

Mostly False

# The Claim: "People please look up the case. This kid sucker punched an off-duty firefighter when stepped in to defend an elderly couple being harass...

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The Claim: "People please look up the case. This kid sucker punched an off-duty firefighter when stepped in to defend an elderly couple being harassed by a group of six teens. This kid had been arrested three times that year for robbery and assault. He was turned over to police by his own mother. The real hero was the firefighter."

1. Introduction

The claim centers around an incident involving an off-duty firefighter who was attacked while intervening to protect an elderly couple from harassment by a group of teenagers. The assertion includes details about the alleged assailant's criminal history, his mother's involvement, and a characterization of the firefighter as a hero. This article will explore the available evidence surrounding this claim, assessing the reliability of the sources and the veracity of the statements made.

2. What We Know

Several reports confirm the occurrence of the incident in question. On May 19, 2019, John Mongiello, an off-duty firefighter, was assaulted by a teenager named Damir Johnson while trying to stop a group of teens from harassing an elderly couple on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Johnson allegedly punched Mongiello, resulting in a concussion and multiple broken teeth for the firefighter 1 2 4 6.

Johnson, 17 at the time, was arrested and charged with assault 3 5 8. Reports indicate that he was part of a larger group of teens involved in the harassment 5 9. However, the specific claim that Johnson had been arrested three times that year for robbery and assault is not substantiated by the available sources. Furthermore, while it is noted that Johnson's mother was involved in turning him over to the police, the details surrounding this action are not elaborated upon in the reports 7.

3. Analysis

The sources used to report on this incident vary in their reliability and potential biases.

ABC7 1, CBS News 4, and NBC New York 5 are established news outlets with a reputation for factual reporting. They provide consistent details about the incident, including the nature of the assault and the injuries sustained by the firefighter.
Fox News 2 also reported on the incident, but it is important to note that Fox has been criticized for potential bias in its reporting, particularly regarding crime stories. This could influence how the narrative is framed.
The New York Post 7 reported that Johnson claimed he was defending a friend during the altercation, which introduces an element of self-defense into the narrative. This claim, however, lacks corroboration from other sources and may reflect an attempt to shift blame.
The Firehouse 3 and KTVU FOX 2 8 articles provide additional context about the injuries sustained by the firefighter and the nature of the assault, but they do not delve into Johnson's criminal history, which raises questions about the accuracy of the claim regarding his previous arrests.

The assertion that Johnson had been arrested three times for robbery and assault is significant but remains unverified by the sources consulted. Additional information from police records or court documents would be necessary to substantiate this claim fully.

4. Conclusion

Verdict: Mostly False

The claim that Damir Johnson had been arrested three times that year for robbery and assault is not supported by the available evidence, leading to the "Mostly False" verdict. While the incident involving the off-duty firefighter John Mongiello is confirmed, the specific details regarding Johnson's prior arrests lack verification from credible sources.

It is important to note that while Johnson was indeed involved in the assault on Mongiello, the characterization of his criminal history is exaggerated and unsubstantiated. Furthermore, the involvement of Johnson's mother in turning him over to the police is mentioned but not elaborated upon, leaving some ambiguity in the narrative.

This conclusion acknowledges the limitations of the available evidence, as further details from police records or court documents could provide a clearer picture of Johnson's background. Readers are encouraged to critically evaluate information and consider the context and reliability of sources when assessing claims of this nature.

5. Sources

ABC7. "Teen arrested in attack on off-duty FDNY firefighter defending elderly ..." Link
Fox News. "Off-duty FDNY firefighter attacked by teens after defending elderly ..." Link
Firehouse. "Teen Arrested in Off-Duty FDNY Firefighter Attack" Link
CBS News. "Police: Teen Arrested In Beating That Left Off-Duty Firefighter With ..." Link
NBC New York. "One of 6 Smiling Teens Sought in NYC Firefighter Attack Arrested ..." Link
CBS News. "NYPD: Off-Duty Firefighter Attacked By Teens After ..." Link
New York Post. "Suspect in FDNY beatdown claims he was defending friend" Link
KTVU FOX 2. "First arrest in teen group assault on firefighter" Link
Fox Sports Radio. "Off-Duty Firefighter Attacked By Teens After Defending ..." Link
YouTube. "Off-Duty Firefighter Attacked By Teens After Defending ..." Link

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Fact Check: Transcript 00:00 For all of their strutting about protesting that they support democracy. Not a one of them gave a damn about democracy when they pulled Biden off the ballot and dropped Kamala Harris in without a single Democrat primary voter voting for him. And you know what? Not a single Democrat is here today because not a single one of them gives a damn about the fact that they lied to the American people for four years. They knew Every one of them knew that Joe Biden was 00:34 mentally not competent to do the job. The White House Press Secretary. She knew when she stood in front of the American people and lied over and over and over again and they're not here because they can't defend themselves. It wasn't a surprise for four years the White House hid President Biden from Republican Senators. Would not let him meet with us. He served 40 years in this body. We all know him. And they deliberately lied and by the way Jake Tapper had a bombshell 01:08 book exposing the incredible scandal that Biden's mental decline was covered up by Jake Tapper. There's a Yiddish word and that truly is how dare we lie and cover up what we all knew. Now I have been asked literally a thousand times by Texans. Was running the country? And I'm going to give 01:40 you the most terrifying answer. I don't know. I genuinely don't know. And not a single Democrat here cares. The most telling proof of Biden's decline came with the signature of the president. The symbol of executive authority that was outsourced to a machine. Mister Wald you're a lawyer who served in the White House Council's Office. You understand the gravity of presidential action. Does the president's signature 02:10 carry legal and constitutional weight under article two? Yes. Is the act of signing an executive order or signing a law or granting a pardon a delegable duty of the president. Uh so in that opinion in 2005 from OLC they said essentially that an autopin could be used by a subordinate but the president's determination as to sign the document can never be delegated. Can that authority 02:41 be transferred to a staff or a machine without the president's explicit authorization? Never. And if you look at the statistics, the statistics are stunning. In 2021, President Biden issued 78 executive orders. None were signed with an auto pen. That first year the presidency, Biden I suppose was relatively lucid and 78 executive orders he signed by hand. The second year, however, we see the auto pen emerged. 03:15 The first auto pen executive order was issued on 15th 2022. After that day 100% of the executive orders issued in 2022 were signed by an autopen. In 2023 Biden issued twenty-four executive orders. 16 were auto penned. In 20twenty-four Biden issued 19. 14 were auto penned. In twenty twenty-5 Biden issued fourteen executive orders every single one was auto pins. 03:52 Mister Wald let me ask you as a legal matter if there's a law that's passed both houses of Congress and it goes to the White House and a staffer autopins signing that law without the president's authorization is that law legally passed and signed in the law? No. If an executive order is issued and a staffer autopins it without the president's authorization, is that executive order legally binding? No. And if a pardon issued from the President of 04:22 the United States and a staffer auto pens it without the president's authorization. Is that pardon legally binding? No. Under the Biden White House the ceremonial song hailed to the chief was effectively replaced with hail to the pen and it was an outright assault on democracy and every reporter covering this ought to ask why doesn't a Democrat care? We heard about the moral responsibilities of a staffer. 04:54 How about an elected senator who knows damn well that if we get into a war and Iran is preparing to fire a nuclear weapon at the United States that the commander in chief is busy playing with his jello and he's not competent to defend ourselves and every member of the cabinet, the chief of staff, the press secretary, and the members of Congress who lied about this on a daily basis with the press's complicity. They are all responsible for subverting democracy. Angry Ted Cruz is perhaps my favorite version of 05:27 Ted Cruz because when he's getting history on it, you might want to take a listen. He is definitely angry that there's some acting going on here in the line of hail to the chief change from hail to the pen that's not a smart line but it's still the truth. The truth is in this video right here ladies and gentlemen. The change in the way Joe Biden used the autopin is a steady upward moving graph from twenty twenty-one to the end of his presidency in early twenty 05:58 twenty-five. Okay? That is a noticeable issue. And if he does not directly authorize the autopin we've got We've got grounds to go through every single law Joe Biden has signed that way and perhaps ignore them all together. There's way more evidence behind the autopin theory and hopefully it ends up sticking. I I hope it does because I think this is in a way worse than the Bill Clinton perjury case. Cuz Bill 06:28 Clinton basically lied before Congress lied directly to the American people lied under oath. This is worse in a way. Because lying under oath means that you know where the truth is and you're just hoping to get away with it and there's a direct law. This however Signing with the auto pin is more opaque. It is an ultimate he said she said and you're dont rate the opinion oo just fact if there is

Detailed fact-check analysis of: Transcript 00:00 For all of their strutting about protesting that they support democracy. Not a one of them gave a damn about democracy when they pulled Biden off the ballot and dropped Kamala Harris in without a single Democrat primary voter voting for him. And you know what? Not a single Democrat is here today because not a single one of them gives a damn about the fact that they lied to the American people for four years. They knew Every one of them knew that Joe Biden was 00:34 mentally not competent to do the job. The White House Press Secretary. She knew when she stood in front of the American people and lied over and over and over again and they're not here because they can't defend themselves. It wasn't a surprise for four years the White House hid President Biden from Republican Senators. Would not let him meet with us. He served 40 years in this body. We all know him. And they deliberately lied and by the way Jake Tapper had a bombshell 01:08 book exposing the incredible scandal that Biden's mental decline was covered up by Jake Tapper. There's a Yiddish word and that truly is how dare we lie and cover up what we all knew. Now I have been asked literally a thousand times by Texans. Was running the country? And I'm going to give 01:40 you the most terrifying answer. I don't know. I genuinely don't know. And not a single Democrat here cares. The most telling proof of Biden's decline came with the signature of the president. The symbol of executive authority that was outsourced to a machine. Mister Wald you're a lawyer who served in the White House Council's Office. You understand the gravity of presidential action. Does the president's signature 02:10 carry legal and constitutional weight under article two? Yes. Is the act of signing an executive order or signing a law or granting a pardon a delegable duty of the president. Uh so in that opinion in 2005 from OLC they said essentially that an autopin could be used by a subordinate but the president's determination as to sign the document can never be delegated. Can that authority 02:41 be transferred to a staff or a machine without the president's explicit authorization? Never. And if you look at the statistics, the statistics are stunning. In 2021, President Biden issued 78 executive orders. None were signed with an auto pen. That first year the presidency, Biden I suppose was relatively lucid and 78 executive orders he signed by hand. The second year, however, we see the auto pen emerged. 03:15 The first auto pen executive order was issued on 15th 2022. After that day 100% of the executive orders issued in 2022 were signed by an autopen. In 2023 Biden issued twenty-four executive orders. 16 were auto penned. In 20twenty-four Biden issued 19. 14 were auto penned. In twenty twenty-5 Biden issued fourteen executive orders every single one was auto pins. 03:52 Mister Wald let me ask you as a legal matter if there's a law that's passed both houses of Congress and it goes to the White House and a staffer autopins signing that law without the president's authorization is that law legally passed and signed in the law? No. If an executive order is issued and a staffer autopins it without the president's authorization, is that executive order legally binding? No. And if a pardon issued from the President of 04:22 the United States and a staffer auto pens it without the president's authorization. Is that pardon legally binding? No. Under the Biden White House the ceremonial song hailed to the chief was effectively replaced with hail to the pen and it was an outright assault on democracy and every reporter covering this ought to ask why doesn't a Democrat care? We heard about the moral responsibilities of a staffer. 04:54 How about an elected senator who knows damn well that if we get into a war and Iran is preparing to fire a nuclear weapon at the United States that the commander in chief is busy playing with his jello and he's not competent to defend ourselves and every member of the cabinet, the chief of staff, the press secretary, and the members of Congress who lied about this on a daily basis with the press's complicity. They are all responsible for subverting democracy. Angry Ted Cruz is perhaps my favorite version of 05:27 Ted Cruz because when he's getting history on it, you might want to take a listen. He is definitely angry that there's some acting going on here in the line of hail to the chief change from hail to the pen that's not a smart line but it's still the truth. The truth is in this video right here ladies and gentlemen. The change in the way Joe Biden used the autopin is a steady upward moving graph from twenty twenty-one to the end of his presidency in early twenty 05:58 twenty-five. Okay? That is a noticeable issue. And if he does not directly authorize the autopin we've got We've got grounds to go through every single law Joe Biden has signed that way and perhaps ignore them all together. There's way more evidence behind the autopin theory and hopefully it ends up sticking. I I hope it does because I think this is in a way worse than the Bill Clinton perjury case. Cuz Bill 06:28 Clinton basically lied before Congress lied directly to the American people lied under oath. This is worse in a way. Because lying under oath means that you know where the truth is and you're just hoping to get away with it and there's a direct law. This however Signing with the auto pin is more opaque. It is an ultimate he said she said and you're dont rate the opinion oo just fact if there is

Jul 27, 2025

Fact Check: All detected text: trump posted
PSAs, total BREAKING We have just IMPORTANT WIN in our Historic Lawsuit against Minutes, and Paramount. like C and George Slopadopoulos, Corporate Owners knew that they defrauded the American People, and desperate settle. Minutes have today paid and we also anticipate receiving Million Dollars more from the new Owners, similar Programming, over Million Dollars. This another long VICTORIES Fake News Media, who holding account for their widespread fraud and deceit. Wall Street Journal, The Failing New York Times, The Washington Post, MSDNC, CNN, other Mainstream Media Liars, NOTICE that the days them being allowed the American People are GREAT AGAIN!

Partially True

🎯 Similar

Fact Check: All detected text: trump posted PSAs, total BREAKING We have just IMPORTANT WIN in our Historic Lawsuit against Minutes, and Paramount. like C and George Slopadopoulos, Corporate Owners knew that they defrauded the American People, and desperate settle. Minutes have today paid and we also anticipate receiving Million Dollars more from the new Owners, similar Programming, over Million Dollars. This another long VICTORIES Fake News Media, who holding account for their widespread fraud and deceit. Wall Street Journal, The Failing New York Times, The Washington Post, MSDNC, CNN, other Mainstream Media Liars, NOTICE that the days them being allowed the American People are GREAT AGAIN!

Detailed fact-check analysis of: All detected text: trump posted PSAs, total BREAKING We have just IMPORTANT WIN in our Historic Lawsuit against Minutes, and Paramount. like C and George Slopadopoulos, Corporate Owners knew that they defrauded the American People, and desperate settle. Minutes have today paid and we also anticipate receiving Million Dollars more from the new Owners, similar Programming, over Million Dollars. This another long VICTORIES Fake News Media, who holding account for their widespread fraud and deceit. Wall Street Journal, The Failing New York Times, The Washington Post, MSDNC, CNN, other Mainstream Media Liars, NOTICE that the days them being allowed the American People are GREAT AGAIN!

Jul 31, 2025

Fact Check: Transcript
00:00
I cannot believe that Trump is
cutting Medicaid. Actually,
what I meant to say is that I
can't believe he's not cutting
more of it because medicaid is
a money laundering scheme for
your government.
Congratulations all you
bleeding heart democrats.
Instead of raging against the
machine, you're bending over
for it. Medicaid is jointly run
by the states and the feds and
for every one dollar that your
state allocates to the program,
the Feds turn around and match
that at a level of one 00
percent so one dollar up to
nine dollars. And this money
comes from taxpayers in other
00:34
states. Your money has a 900%
return rate at someone else's
expense. Why wouldn't you
expand the program? Thanks
Obama. That's exactly how we
wound up with way too many
Medicaid recipients in the
first place. Like everything
related to healthcare the
providers are in bed with the
government on this one too
because the government can tax
the providers. 1. Use that
dollar to collect the up to
nine dollars in federal funds
and to reimburse the provider
their original dollar. What?
Robbing the taxpayer to pad the
funding pool leading to
increase reimbursements for
01:06
Medicaid for the providers.
Yeah, if I'm a doctor or a
health care facility, I'm
saying sign me up to that. Yes,
the medical industrial complex
totally has your best interest
in mind so go ahead and swallow
up those vaccines like a good
little comrade. Age me harder
daddy. And speaking of
comrades, do you know how many
people in this country receive
Medicaid that shouldn't? Before
you start screaming, everyone
should get free health care.
Not the argument here. We do
not have universal health care
in the United States. It
doesn't work and since we don't
have it, that means someone is
paying for it and guess what?
There are lower-income families
01:37
who don't qualify for the
benefits but they're taxpayers
and they're being burdened by
this. Back to the point which
is that the system is insanely
abused. I used to do child
support referee work for years
and you would v

Partially True

🎯 Similar

Fact Check: Transcript 00:00 I cannot believe that Trump is cutting Medicaid. Actually, what I meant to say is that I can't believe he's not cutting more of it because medicaid is a money laundering scheme for your government. Congratulations all you bleeding heart democrats. Instead of raging against the machine, you're bending over for it. Medicaid is jointly run by the states and the feds and for every one dollar that your state allocates to the program, the Feds turn around and match that at a level of one 00 percent so one dollar up to nine dollars. And this money comes from taxpayers in other 00:34 states. Your money has a 900% return rate at someone else's expense. Why wouldn't you expand the program? Thanks Obama. That's exactly how we wound up with way too many Medicaid recipients in the first place. Like everything related to healthcare the providers are in bed with the government on this one too because the government can tax the providers. 1. Use that dollar to collect the up to nine dollars in federal funds and to reimburse the provider their original dollar. What? Robbing the taxpayer to pad the funding pool leading to increase reimbursements for 01:06 Medicaid for the providers. Yeah, if I'm a doctor or a health care facility, I'm saying sign me up to that. Yes, the medical industrial complex totally has your best interest in mind so go ahead and swallow up those vaccines like a good little comrade. Age me harder daddy. And speaking of comrades, do you know how many people in this country receive Medicaid that shouldn't? Before you start screaming, everyone should get free health care. Not the argument here. We do not have universal health care in the United States. It doesn't work and since we don't have it, that means someone is paying for it and guess what? There are lower-income families 01:37 who don't qualify for the benefits but they're taxpayers and they're being burdened by this. Back to the point which is that the system is insanely abused. I used to do child support referee work for years and you would v

Detailed fact-check analysis of: Transcript 00:00 I cannot believe that Trump is cutting Medicaid. Actually, what I meant to say is that I can't believe he's not cutting more of it because medicaid is a money laundering scheme for your government. Congratulations all you bleeding heart democrats. Instead of raging against the machine, you're bending over for it. Medicaid is jointly run by the states and the feds and for every one dollar that your state allocates to the program, the Feds turn around and match that at a level of one 00 percent so one dollar up to nine dollars. And this money comes from taxpayers in other 00:34 states. Your money has a 900% return rate at someone else's expense. Why wouldn't you expand the program? Thanks Obama. That's exactly how we wound up with way too many Medicaid recipients in the first place. Like everything related to healthcare the providers are in bed with the government on this one too because the government can tax the providers. 1. Use that dollar to collect the up to nine dollars in federal funds and to reimburse the provider their original dollar. What? Robbing the taxpayer to pad the funding pool leading to increase reimbursements for 01:06 Medicaid for the providers. Yeah, if I'm a doctor or a health care facility, I'm saying sign me up to that. Yes, the medical industrial complex totally has your best interest in mind so go ahead and swallow up those vaccines like a good little comrade. Age me harder daddy. And speaking of comrades, do you know how many people in this country receive Medicaid that shouldn't? Before you start screaming, everyone should get free health care. Not the argument here. We do not have universal health care in the United States. It doesn't work and since we don't have it, that means someone is paying for it and guess what? There are lower-income families 01:37 who don't qualify for the benefits but they're taxpayers and they're being burdened by this. Back to the point which is that the system is insanely abused. I used to do child support referee work for years and you would v

Jul 27, 2025

True

Fact Check: The kind of masculine energy, I think, is good. Having a culture that celebrates the aggression a bit more has its own merits. That was Mark Zuckerberg speaking on the Joe Rogan podcast in January. The Meta CEO made these comments just as his company was announcing sweeping policy changes, from unwinding its hate speech rules, to rolling back diversity efforts, to breaking up its civil rights team, to ending the fact-checking program that infuriated President Donald Trump during his first term in office. The speed and scope of these moves gave many onlookers a sense of whiplash. So we spoke to more than 50 people about Mark Zuckerberg's politics and his tumultuous relationship to Washington over the years to find out what's up.

Detailed fact-check analysis of: The kind of masculine energy, I think, is good. Having a culture that celebrates the aggression a bit more has its own merits. That was Mark Zuckerberg speaking on the Joe Rogan podcast in January. The Meta CEO made these comments just as his company was announcing sweeping policy changes, from unwinding its hate speech rules, to rolling back diversity efforts, to breaking up its civil rights team, to ending the fact-checking program that infuriated President Donald Trump during his first term in office. The speed and scope of these moves gave many onlookers a sense of whiplash. So we spoke to more than 50 people about Mark Zuckerberg's politics and his tumultuous relationship to Washington over the years to find out what's up.

Jul 26, 2025

False

Fact Check: Obama became president illegally because he was born in Kenya. The Bush family is involved in the New World Order (NWO). Hillary Clinton was passed over by the Vatican for the presidency because people care more about race than character. The Vatican is described as "Satan's earthly HQ" and supposedly orchestrates various political events. Trump was anti-Illuminati, fought a stolen election, and was targeted by a coup and various conspiracies. The COVID-19 mRNA vaccine is framed as part of a satanic/globalist plan (NWO). Jesus gave Trump two terms because of what the Vatican did on 9/11.

Detailed fact-check analysis of: Obama became president illegally because he was born in Kenya. The Bush family is involved in the New World Order (NWO). Hillary Clinton was passed over by the Vatican for the presidency because people care more about race than character. The Vatican is described as "Satan's earthly HQ" and supposedly orchestrates various political events. Trump was anti-Illuminati, fought a stolen election, and was targeted by a coup and various conspiracies. The COVID-19 mRNA vaccine is framed as part of a satanic/globalist plan (NWO). Jesus gave Trump two terms because of what the Vatican did on 9/11.

Jul 28, 2025

🔍

False

Fact Check: Transcript 00:00 I'm Christy Nome here in Texas with my boots on the ground after this devastating tragedy that was absolutely not preventable and we are in no way responsible for it after visiting here I recently found out that Habius Corpus is the name of a city here in Texas and is in fact not a legal term which means the president can do whatever he wants. I have been told by some people that in addition to being the Secretary of Homeland Security that does also make me the head of Fema Fema sounds like female or feminism and that's DEI and 00:34 I don't believe in that. President Trump has entrusted me to be in charge of Fema which is not a federal emergency management agency. In fact, all emergencies are actually being managed by the state and the reason why I am here is to make sure to get some good film for my B roll. It is completely disgusting that there are people out there who are trying to politicize the devastation that happened here in Texas and I would like to remind everyone that it is only okay to politicize natural disasters when they happen in 01:04 blue states.

Detailed fact-check analysis of: Transcript 00:00 I'm Christy Nome here in Texas with my boots on the ground after this devastating tragedy that was absolutely not preventable and we are in no way responsible for it after visiting here I recently found out that Habius Corpus is the name of a city here in Texas and is in fact not a legal term which means the president can do whatever he wants. I have been told by some people that in addition to being the Secretary of Homeland Security that does also make me the head of Fema Fema sounds like female or feminism and that's DEI and 00:34 I don't believe in that. President Trump has entrusted me to be in charge of Fema which is not a federal emergency management agency. In fact, all emergencies are actually being managed by the state and the reason why I am here is to make sure to get some good film for my B roll. It is completely disgusting that there are people out there who are trying to politicize the devastation that happened here in Texas and I would like to remind everyone that it is only okay to politicize natural disasters when they happen in 01:04 blue states.

Jul 28, 2025

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1. Introduction

2. What We Know

3. Analysis

4. Conclusion

5. Sources

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