A married mother shared that the man who shoved her into a truck at a Manhattan subway station has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, leaving her feeling trapped in an “invisible cage” due to the fear stemming from the attack.
Wang Xu, 36, tearfully recounted how her life took a drastic turn after 41-year-old Samuel Junker pushed her onto the subway tracks at Chambers Street Station on August 29, 2023, resulting in a broken leg.
“Every time I enter a subway station, my heart races, my breathing quickens, and my hands tremble,” Xu expressed in her victim impact statement, highlighting how the trauma feels as if it’s replaying.
The judge in the Manhattan Supreme Court, Laura, sentenced Junker to ten years for the incident, during which he expressed remorse for what he did, stating he would pray for Xu.
“My apology goes deeper than the ocean,” Junker said, acknowledging his regret towards the victim in court.
After finishing work, Xu was heading home when Junker unexpectedly pushed her into the subway truck from behind.
While Xu’s physical injuries still affect her, it’s the psychological trauma that has truly disrupted her family life. She described feeling like they’re living in a constant state of fear since the incident.
“It feels like we’re trapped in an invisible cage, overshadowed by what happened,” she explained, noting the strain on her and her husband’s emotional well-being.
An assistant district attorney, Dylan Ross Feltos, commented on the severity of the situation, emphasizing the many nightmares New Yorkers face, particularly Xu’s experience.
Prosecutors had sought a 12-year sentence for Junker, who pleaded guilty to an attempted first-degree assault on July 9.
The judge remarked on Junker’s consistent expressions of regret over the past two years since the attack occurred. “I know you’re dealing with your own nightmares, and I’m truly sorry your family had to endure this,” the judge noted.
