Series Of Subway Assaults In Brooklyn
Taking the subway can be an unpleasant experience, with the crowds, delays—you name it. Now it seems a recent wave of random violent assaults is making it dangerous for riders as well.
On March 16, a 67-year-old woman was spat on and and kicked in the forehead by a 23-year-old assailant on a 2 train near Clark Street station in Brooklyn Heights. Police arrested Shaquan Cummings and charged him with assault, menacing, harassment, and disorderly conduct.
Thursday morning, March 30, a 29-year-old male victim was also spat on, verbally accosted with anti-gay remarks, and punched multiple times while taking a Manhattan-bound C train to work. The attack occurred near the Lafayette Avenue subway station in Fort Greene during the morning rush hour commute.
Police are still searching for the suspect who fled at the Hoyt-Schermerhorn station in Downtown Brooklyn. The victim remained on the subway until it reached the 59th Street stop in Manhattan where he notified police of the incident. He declined medical treatment and did no suffer serious injury.
The suspect is described as a black male, approximately 25-years-old, with long black hair. He was wearing red sweatpants and purple headphones when he struck.
Police are investigating the case as a possible hate crime. Officials have investigated 17 hate crimes based on a victim’s sexual orientation already this year — a 13% increase from last year, according to the New York Daily News.
Overall hate crimes have doubled since last year, with 131 being reported as of March 26, as opposed to 65 hate crimes being investigated at the same time last year, officials say.
Then on Friday morning, March 31, at approximately 8:30am, a 30-year-old woman talking to friends on a Manhattan-bound 2 train was slapped by a man standing next to her as the subway pulled into the Borough Hall station, where the assailant fled.
A witness managed to take a couple of cellphone photos of the assailant who is described as a black male, approximately 35-years-old, 5’11”, and about 160 pounds. He was wearing a blue skull cap, white coat, and black jeans when he attacked (see photos).
Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.