A 66-year-old woman was left with facial and forearm injuries Thursday morning after she was assaulted aboard a northbound Q train at the Newkirk Avenue station, according to police. Investigators say the attacker approached the rider, got into a verbal dispute, then punched her on the right side of the face and bit her left forearm before fleeing on foot. Authorities have circulated a wanted bulletin and are urging witnesses to come forward.
In a wanted bulletin, NYPD Crime Stoppers said the assault happened at approximately 7:20 a.m. on Thursday and that the unidentified individual fled the scene. The post asks anyone with information or video to contact investigators.
Where the attack happened
The incident took place at Newkirk Plaza on the BMT Brighton Line, a Flatbush stop that the Q train serves at all times. The station sits on a busy commercial strip and is a regular commuting point for riders between Brooklyn and Manhattan, according to Wikipedia.
How to help police identify the suspect
Anyone with information is asked to call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS or the Spanish line at 1-888-57-PISTA, or to submit an internet tip, according to NYPD Crime Stoppers. The program notes that tips leading to an arrest and indictment may be eligible for rewards up to $3,500.
Broader transit safety context
City reporting and statements from officials indicate that many categories of subway crime have fallen this year, even as individual attacks continue to grab headlines. Local coverage and official materials point to declines in transit felonies and assaults and credit increased patrols and investments in safety programs, per ABC7 New York and the governor’s office…