A New York City subway rider waiting for a train Monday was shoved onto the tracks in the latest unprovoked attack on a straphanger as crime on the public transit system continues to soar.
The harrowing incident took place in Lower Manhattan about 5:30 am inside the Chambers Street station, where a 45-year-old man was pushed off the No. 1 train platform and onto the subway tracks by a deranged stranger.
The stunned victim was able to pull himself back up onto the subway platform before any trains approached.
Authorities said he was treated at the scene for minor injuries, including a small cut.
Transit crimes have skyrocketed as ridership struggles to return to pre-pandemic levels.
There were 350 complaints involving transit crimes - which include felony assault, sex crimes, robbery and harassment - in September, a jump of more than 72 percent from the 254 complaints filed in September 2020
The most recent incident took place at 5:30 am inside the Chambers Street station, pictured, when a 45-year-old was shoved by a stranger, without warning, onto the subway tracks
For this year's week of October 25 to October 31, there were 42 transit crimes committed, a 20 percent spike when compared to the same time last year.
Monday's victim told police his assailant never said a word as he approached before shoving him onto the train tracks.
On October 23, a man had his leg broken after an assailant attempted to rob him at Bushwick at about 4:15 am on the platform of the L line.
Police said the suspect approached the 52-year-old man and demanded his belongings, and when the victim resisted, the robber shoved the victim off the platform and onto the roadbed, where he sustained severe injuries to his leg.
That suspect fled the scene before cops could arrive.
In August, a woman nearly shoved a man onto the subway tracks in a similarly unprovoked attack at the Times Square station as the 22-year-old victim was standing on the N/Q/R platform when a stranger came up from behind and pushed him, according to ABC 7.
In that case, 26-year-old Briana Randolf was charged with two counts of assault.
Those not being shoved need to watch their backs as well.
On Monday, authorities released shocking footage showing a mugger on a scooter rolling up to a teenager waiting for a train and pulling a gun on the boy, one in a series of five attempted robberies by a brazen crew that targeted subway riders in the Bronx last week, police said.
A suspect wearing a red mask pulled a gun out of his pocket and briefly pointed it at the boy, according to the video. However, the brave teen apparently refused to hand over his cellphone.
The video shows the gunman put his weapon back in his pocket and scoot off toward the exit, where he menaced the teen by pointing the gun through the station gate.
About 10 minutes later, the same suspect and an accomplice reportedly went after a young couple outside the station.
Video footage captured the moment a suspected mugger pulled a gun on a 16-year-old boy on a subway platform at the E. 143rd St Station on October 31
The suspect, who was on a scooter wearing a red mask, exited through the turn stile after briefly pulling the gun on the boy
This time they were more successful. One of the muggers pulled a gun and stole an iPhone 12, AirPods and a wallet as three others in the crew kept a lookout.
A few days later, two muggers from the suspected crew took a 15-year-old boy's iPhone 10 and Nike backpack after pulling a gun on him while he was leaving the Nereid Ave. station, police said.
The boy's backpack contained a MacBook and a bank card.
About 15 minutes after the stickup, the gunman was seen carrying the stolen red backpack as he targeted another victim at the 219th St. station, a second video released by cops shows.
Just like in the first video, the targeted man, who was 19, was sitting on a platform bench waiting for the uptown train. Again the robber stalked the victim before appearing to brandish a gun.
The pair appeared to get into a brief scuffle after the suspect appeared to have pulled a gun on the man
Crime rate for NYC in major categories through October 31
The two scuffled near the edge of the station's steps before the 19-year-old fled down the flight of the stairs as the suspect gave chase before giving up the pursuit cops said.
The incidents remain under investigation as police attempt to identify the gunman and his various accomplices.
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