New York police officers have arrested a man after a video allegedly showing him kicking an elderly woman in the face on the subway on March 10 went viral.
The video, which was shared on multiple social media platforms, shows the 78-year-old woman in a grey coat sitting in the corner of a subway car around 3 a.m.
The visibly angry man can be seen attacking the woman, kicking her in the face and body multiple times.
Chief Dermot F. Shea, the NYPD Chief of Detectives, announced the arrest in a Tweet on March 23: “The subject wanted for the brutal subway attack of an elderly woman IS IN CUSTODY.”
Shea also said that the victim was released from the hospital and is getting support and care.The woman tried to defend herself, holding up her arms to try to block the blows.
Meanwhile, at least two people filmed the assault and did nothing. Shouts can be heard in the background but no riders came to the woman’s defense.
As the train pulled into a station, the man yelled something at the elderly victim before turning around and looking at one of the people filming.
“WorldStar that, my [expletive],” he said, directing the person to upload the footage online, before he exited the train.
The person filming continued standing still and recording instead of going to the woman and helping. She was seen holding a hand to her head and was in obvious pain.
Officers were finally notified when the train arrived at the next stop and someone who witnessed the assault got off the train and told an officer at the station.
The victim was reportedly treated at the station by medics who responded to the scene.
Twitter user Rello, who posted the footage online, said that he was not there.
“For everybody asking me if this is my video. No and if I was there it was not going down like that. He was not getting away. New York City has to get better with ‘minding our own business.’ See something say something goes for everything,” he said.
“I only screen recorded the video to help catch this guy. You never put hands on any woman. Especially an older woman,” he added. “And any real New Yorker would’ve done anything but record this. These were obviously kids on the train with no real sense but to say ‘Ooos’ & ‘Ahhs.'”
