A string of alarming incidents at New York City's subway stations has prompted heightened concern over public safety as the New Year kicked off with multiple violent assaults and robberies.
On January 1, at around 6 PM, 71-year-old Linda Rosa was attacked at Hoyt Street subway station. According to the New York Post, Rosa had just exited the subway and was on her way to church when she was approached by four young girls. She was first confronted by one who attempted to snatch her wallet, followed by another who hit her, knocking off her glasses, and trying to grab her belongings.
Rosa, refusing to go down without a fight, tangled with one of the attackers. Amidst the struggle, which saw her fall and suffer kicks, Rosa quickly regained her footing and cleverly grabbed the attacker by the hair. To her surprise, the move worked, prompting another girl to charge at her. Rosa repeated her tactic, securing the second assailant's hair with her left hand. During her desperate plea for help, the aggressors eventually abandoned their attempt and fled the scene.
Afterward, Rosa made her way to the church, where staff assisted her in calling 911, and she was later taken to the hospital. Surveillance footage was released by the New York City Police Department (NYPD), showcasing the events to aid efforts to identify the four fugitives.
This violent incident was quickly followed by another assault just hours later, showing the growing unrest within the subway system. The next morning, January 2, at approximately 9:40 AM, a 31-year-old male passenger was aboard the No. 2 train approaching the 14th Street/7th Avenue station when he became the target of unsolicited verbal provocations by a stranger. This quickly escalated, resulting in the assailant stabbing him with a knife before fleeing as the train doors closed behind him.
The victim was swiftly transported to Bellevue Hospital with injuries declared stable, thanks to rapid response personnel.
Shortly thereafter, at around 6:10 AM, another attack occurred involving 47-year-old Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) employee Jamar Banks at the Pelham Parkway station. Banks reported being similarly confronted with verbal taunting, leading to the attacker using the same knife method to stab him under his arm and on his back. Again, after the assault, the perpetrator escaped the scene and Banks was taken to Jacobi Hospital for treatment.
Investigative efforts have linked these separate attacks to the same assailant, identified as Jamar Banks, 52. The police released images of him captured on surveillance, depicting him with a white goatee and dressed in black. Despite the identification, Banks remains at large, adding to police frustrations and public anxiety. Authorities are calling on the public for support, offering rewards of up to $3,500 for any information leading to his arrest.
The recent spate of violence raises significant alarms about safety within the subway system, which many New Yorkers rely on for daily commutes. Officials have expressed concerns over escalated crime rates and the need for enhanced security measures. With these troubling events casting shadows on what should be safe transit, the call to action for increased vigilance from both transit authorities and the public is clearer than ever.
New Yorkers are urged to stay alert and report any suspicious activities via the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or through their online platform.