Disturbing Attack on High Line Leads to Arrest
A man was arrested on Thursday after allegedly going on a violent spree on the High Line, where he slapped two young children, including a toddler.
Ramy Lopez, 32, from Brooklyn, reportedly struck a 7-year-old boy while the child was with his 3-year-old sister and their babysitter around 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, coinciding with a school holiday. The boy’s mother, who chose not to disclose her name, shared more about the incident.
“They were just walking the High Line to visit the Whitney,” she told a reporter. “Then he described how the man just brushed past him and hit him with his cell phone on the mouth and jaw.”
The mother recounted her son’s experience, noting the assailant said things like “Don’t do that again” before just walking away. “It was all so bizarre,” she added.
The babysitter quickly ensured the boy felt safe and reached out to his mother, who hurried over from her job in Brooklyn. “He said he was fine, but he was crying pretty hysterically,” she recounted, expressing her concern. “It’s quite scary, don’t you think?”
Although he claimed to be okay, the boy mentioned some pain, especially in his jaw and a loose tooth. “He was more surprised than actually hurt,” his mother added, trying to lighten the mood amid the seriousness of it all.
Just after the incident with the boy, Lopez allegedly slapped a 2-year-old girl who sat nearby with her father. Witnesses said that this attack caused bruising and swelling on the infant’s face.
Lopez, described by sources as “emotionally unstable,” fled the scene and was later apprehended in Brownsville on Thursday morning. He faces two felony charges related to the assaults, according to police.
The elderly mother of the toddler praised the police for their responsiveness. “They were fantastic,” she acknowledged. “They assured us they would find him, and they did.”
Interestingly, Lopez had been arrested before, in late August, in Manhattan on charges of forcible touching but had been released following an arraignment.
The boy’s mother voiced her frustrations, suggesting that better support and resources for individuals like Lopez could make a difference. “We really need to give people more options and get them the psychological help they require,” she stated.
She also expressed her concerns about the difficulty of ensuring children’s safety in the city. “I’m not very big,” she said, referring to her small stature. “My son is about the same size as me. It’s tough to keep them safe out there. You can’t shield them from everything.”
