Man dies after being punched out by stranger he accidentally bumped into on East Harlem street, death deemed homicide

A 63-year-old man died after being punched out by a stranger he accidentally bumped into on an East Harlem street, police said Wednesday.

Cops initially thought Charles Cunningham was the victim of an accidental fall when he was found sprawled out unconscious from a head injury near Fifth Ave. and E. 105th St. at 11:30 p.m. April 20.

Medics rushed Cunningham to Mount Sinai Morningside, where he died the next day.

Cops eventually recovered surveillance footage showing Cunningham walking downtown on Fifth Ave. when he accidentally bumped into a passing stranger. Outraged, the stranger turned around and punched Cunningham in the face, cops said.

The back of Cunningham’s head struck the concrete sidewalk as he fell backward onto the street.

Cops are still looking for the puncher and the death has been deemed a homicide.

Cunningham is survived by an ex-wife, his son, Charles Cunningham III and twin brothers Mark and Timothy Cunningham.

His brothers said their brother had formed some bad habits over the years.

“He was into drugs, alcohol and had lost a lot of weight. I don’t even know where he was living when he died,” said Timothy, who works in the maintenance department of the Central Park Zoo.

Mark said that he ran into his brother occasionally on the street or on the bus but had never made an effort to keep in touch because he didn’t agree with his brother’s lifestyle.

“He didn’t work, never paid bills, and hardly ever had filling meals,” Mark said. “He associated himself with the wrong people, and that’s what got him killed. He put himself in that position.”