A cruel assault sent an elderly man to the hospital in Melrose, police say.

News 12 is told the 76-year-old victim was trying to break up a fight between the suspect and another man when he became the target on a Bx21 bus last week. 

Video released by the NYPD shows a man with a black hat and glasses swinging at someone. The victim told authorities he was riding the bus around 12 p.m. when a fight broke out between two men. 

He says he tried to intervene and break up the fight. In the middle of trying to calm the situation, police say the suspect grabbed the 76-year-old man by the neck and threw him to the floor. 

News 12 is told the victim was punched multiple times in the face before the assailant hoped off the bus on 158th Street and Third Avenue. 

The victim suffered a broken nose and cuts to his face.

Police are offering a reward for information that leads to an arrest and indictment.

Anyone with information is asked to call police.