A 71-year-old Green Line rider was punched in the face and then blasted with pepper spray at Prudential station in a midafternoon attack on February 17, and MBTA Transit Police say they are now trying to track down the woman they believe is responsible.
The incident happened at about 3 p.m., according to Transit Police, who say the woman assaulted the man aboard the train before spraying him. The case is being treated as assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and investigators have released surveillance images in hopes that riders can help put a name to the face.
Photos Released, Police Ask for Tips
Transit Police shared still images from the surveillance footage in an X post and asked anyone who recognizes the woman to call the department’s Criminal Investigations Unit, as reported by Boston.com. The post included the CIU phone number and noted that tipsters can remain anonymous.
Officials have not said what might have sparked the confrontation or how seriously the victim was hurt.
What Police Wrote
In their public post, Transit Police described the attack in blunt terms, writing that “the SP viciously punched a 71y/o male victim about his face, then sprayed him w/pepper spray,” according to MBTA Transit Police. The department labeled the case an assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, attached multiple surveillance photos and urged anyone who recognizes the woman to contact detectives.
A Broader Pattern
The incident lands amid recurring safety worries on the MBTA. In March 2024, several Green Line riders were pepper sprayed at Lechmere in an attack that drew fresh attention to violent episodes on the system, according to The Boston Globe. Transit Police often turn to rider tips and video footage to identify suspects when images alone are not enough.
Legal Note
Under Massachusetts law, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon is a felony that carries significant prison time. G.L. c.265 §15A allows for sentences of up to 10 years in state prison, with steeper penalties in aggravated cases, according to the Massachusetts Legislature. Prosecutors will decide on any formal charges if a suspect is identified and arrested…