NYPD are seeking a suspect after a subway rider was assaulted with a screwdriver in an “unprovoked” attack on the 1 train at Columbus Circle Thursday night, police said.
Around 9:40 p.m., a 61-year-old man was sitting on the train heading south into the Columbus Circle station when he was approached by a man wearing a black face mask and a black and red hooded sweatshirt, according to the NYPD.
The man struck the passenger in the mouth and left side of his head with a screwdriver, and then fled the train when it pulled into the station, leaving the weapon behind, police said.
The passenger, whose name was not released by the NYPD, was taken to Mount Sinai West in stable condition. Police said the investigation is ongoing.
“This incident was senseless and unacceptable and we are grateful nobody was seriously injured," said Demetrius Crichlow, senior vice president at the New York City Transit Department of Subways. "The NYPD has full cooperation from our transit security camera team and when the perpetrator is arrested, he should face aggressive prosecution delivering justice with consequences.”
Earlier this week, a Queens man was arrested after allegedly firing a gun inside the 49th Street N, R, and W subway station in what police said was an attempt to stop another man from mugging a woman.
John Rote, 43, was arrested on weapons charges Tuesday after police said he shot at Matthew Roesch, who was also arrested on charges of attempted robbery.
A request for comment from the MTA was not immediately returned Friday.
Anyone with information about the attack should contact the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or 1-888-57-PISTA (74782) for Spanish. Tips can also be submitted online at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/.
