NYPD: Man wanted for shoving woman into subway in apparent random attack
NEW YORK - A 35-year-old woman has been hospitalized after being shoved into a subway train.
It happened Sunday morning at the Lexington Avenue-63rd Street station.
Police need help identifying the man who they say did it.
Police released a photo of the man they say pushed a 35-year-old Queens woman into a train.
It happened Sunday morning just after 6 a.m.
The victim, they say, was walking on the southbound platform at the Lexington Avenue-63rd Street station when the man approached her from behind, and pushed.
Police said there was no prior contact between her and the attacker, and no words were exchanged.
The woman is in critical condition after undergoing spinal surgery and suffering lacerations to the head.
Riders at the station where it happened spoke out.
"Sadly it's not surprising because it happens more often, you know, nowadays," subway rider Mei Liu said.
"Not often but enough. Enough is enough. So it's time to have a change. It's time to do something about it," straphanger Regina Thompson said.
"It's devastating. It's something that should never be considered normal, but of course it's just gotten to the point in New York City where this is just a regular occurrence," Jack Nierenberg of Passengers United said.
Nierenberg said until better safety measures are in place, it's best to stand as far back on the platform as possible.
"Be especially vigilant, no matter where you are, because you never know if someone is going to push you or do anything to you," Nierenberg said.
There's currently a pilot program at the 57th Street Station that includes platform barriers and a place for riders to stand away from the edge.
The NYPD said, according to statistics, year-to-date there have been three subway push to tracks in 2023, compared to nine in 2022.
Police believe it was a random crime. They say the man who shoved her took off, and was last seen heading to the Second Avenue exit of the station. Police said there was no words exchanged between the victim and her attacker.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.
