A horrifying assault was captured on video last week when an unidentified man beat a 60-year-old woman with her own cane for over two minutes. The attack happened at a Harlem subway station in New York City at approximately 3:30 a.m. Video reveals multiple onlookers filmed the assault but failed to intervene.
The footage shows the woman initially defending herself with her cane before the assailant takes it from her. He proceeds to hit her more than 50 times, so hard that the cane eventually breaks. The man then starts to hit her head with his fist. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital, where she is in stable condition, while the assailant remains at large.
Man beats elderly woman with her own cane in NYC subway for 2 full minutes while onlookers film, do not helphttps://t.co/gY9wf91X1C
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) September 5, 2023
This incident joins a string of violent events that have plagued NYC’s subway system. According to the most recent NYPD statistics, transit crime is down 4.5% this year compared to last. However, a 2023 report cited Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg expressing his fears about crime in the subway system. “I know the statistics that transit crime is down, but when one of my family members gets on the train, I, too, get a knot in my stomach,” Bragg stated.
While Bragg acknowledges the dip in crime rates, it’s essential to note that transit crime spiked more than 18% last month. This contrasts sharply with his claim that the crime data were “moving in the right direction.” Moreover, violent incidents are becoming all too common, from subway slashings to an increase in felony assaults that remain on par with last year’s numbers.
The incident raises many questions, not only about the effectiveness of current policies but also about the moral state of the community. What does it say about us when a brutal attack can happen and nobody intervenes? Even if one argues that the bystanders feared for their safety, they could have at least called 911.
There’s more to be done in fighting crime effectively, especially when protecting vulnerable members of society. But it also serves as a wake-up call for citizens. In a society that has increasingly become divided and self-focused, the onus of maintaining law and order doesn’t just lie on law enforcement agencies but on each one of us. If we can’t depend on the community to act in such grave situations, can we ever hope to turn the crime statistics around?
Posted on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, the disturbing video has provoked outrage and concern. Please be advised that the video contained in the post is graphic.
WARNING — GRAPHIC: Man beats 60-year-old woman at NYC subway for over 2 minutes with her own cane last Friday; the victim is stable at the hospital but the attacker is on the loose
pic.twitter.com/RPpRVROfAp— HPN Network🗽 (@HPNnetwork) September 5, 2023
Yet, the episode remains an unsolved crime with no reported arrests. With law enforcement stretched thin and citizens looking the other way, the city’s descent into lawlessness has taken another significant step.
Whether the answer lies in stricter law enforcement, community-led initiatives, or a blend of both, something needs to change. The current state is unacceptable, both from a policy standpoint and a human one.
