71-Year-Old Casino Patron Assaulted Outside Jake’s 58 Casino Hotel in Islandia, NY

A man was visiting the Jake’s 58 Casino Hotel in Islandia, New York, when he struck a big payday. The 71-year-old winner was thrilled with the undisclosed amount, which he scored on Saturday, September 6, and was about to go home and celebrate, when, upon leaving the property, another man was waiting for him.

Perpetrator Returned, Angry He Didn’t Steal Enough the First Time

One Aaron Hayes, 24, of Port Jefferson Station, confronted the victim in the parking lot and assaulted him, stealing some $30. However, the perpetrator soon became aware that he had stolen a negligible amount and returned, attacking the elderly man once again, and tackling him to the ground.

Bystanders intervened and managed to fight off the assailant. The accident took place in broad daylight at 3:40 pm when the first calls about the attack started to come in.

The Suffolk County Police Department was able to quickly collect evidence from the scene, including witness accounts and camera footage, and located Hayes, resulting in his immediate arrest.

The police did not offer details as to how much money the victim had won to trigger the assault on that fateful Saturday afternoon, but this is not the only time winners have been assaulted either right in front of casino properties or later, in other locations, including their own homes.

A trio of men assaulted another casino winner as he was returning home from the Treasure Island Resort & Casino, and robbed him of $38,000. In some cases, robbed patrons have gone so far as to even blame the casinos for failing to provide the necessary security standards.

One such case was filed by a law firm against the Parx Casino in Pennsylvania in 2022, with many similar stories making headlines around the nation.