Browns Bay sushi shop assault: Two men arrested after ‘violent attack’ on owner

Two men have been arrested after an alleged assault at a sushi shop on Auckland’s North Shore.

Bay Sushi is on the same Browns Bay street where a woman was stabbed earlier this year at another sushi shop.

A 22-year-old man whose family own Bay Sushi said his father was a victim of a “random attack” by two men, as the business was opening.

“We had just finished preparing everything to start the business day when my dad noticed this random person on his phone, sitting in front of our shop and talking very loudly,” he said.

“He wasn’t a customer, so my dad was just curious and had a peek to see what was happening and asked if he wanted anything.”

He said they “matched eyes” and the man became very aggressive and started swearing at his dad.

The man then started hitting his father, and then another person “came out of nowhere” and sucker punched him.

“My dad has a serious bruise on his eye, but it was lucky he didn’t suffer any fractures or head injuries,” the man said.

“Several people saw what happened and a bystander called the police as the two men fled the scene.”

Police obtained CCTV footage from a neighbouring shop.

“Within an hour or two, we were told by the police that they had managed to arrest both men,” he said.

A police spokesperson said police were called to Clyde Rd at 10.39am.

The spokesperson said there were several witnesses to the assault.

The victim did not require medical attention.

“The two men were taken into custody at a nearby address without further incident.”

A 35-year-old is due in North Shore District Court today charged with assault.

“Charges for the other man are being considered,” the spokesperson said.

A post on a community social media page said the victim’s family “were in shock”.

“These violent attacks are happening too much and it’s about time for a change.”

It comes after a woman was stabbed multiple times by a man in March, and the attacker died at the scene from self-inflicted wounds.

One witness told the Herald he saw the woman lying on the ground with blood pooling around her head.

“She was outside the door of the sushi shop lying on the pavement. She was not responding but she was moving her legs and she was in pain.”

Police were called to the stabbing where a woman was found lying in a pool of blood outside Neco Sushi. Photo / Hayden Woodward

Rachel Maher is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. She has worked for the Herald since 2022.