MTA Worker Assaulted in Brooklyn Subway Incident
An MTA employee is recovering after being “viciously” attacked on Saturday by two women who attempted to evade subway fares in Brooklyn, according to police reports.
The NYPD is currently searching for the individuals involved in this incident.
Around 1:15 PM, 51-year-old Marshallie Reid was stationed at the mezzanine level of the new Lott Avenue subway station. She was there as part of her recovery from brain surgery last year, as reported by the Transportation Workers’ Union.
While assisting an elderly passenger through the emergency gate, one of the women allegedly jumped over the turnstile. Almost immediately, the second woman followed and exited through the emergency door.
Afterward, both women confronted Reid, claiming they needed to pay the fare before launching a brutal attack. They reportedly hit her with keys and punched her repeatedly on various parts of her body.
The suspects fled the scene before emergency medical services arrived, transporting Reid to Brookdale Hospital, where she is in stable condition.
The NYPD is working with MTA representatives to locate the women responsible for the assault.
Bureau Vice President Robert Kelly expressed hope that the attackers would face at least seven years in prison for their actions. He voiced confidence in the NYPD’s ability to find the suspects.
“We used to give out tickets to fare evaders. Now, these assailants need to face the consequences,” Kelly stated. “It’s important that people recognize they can’t continue attacking transit workers,” Reid added.
During Governor Kathy Hochul’s January address, she acknowledged safety concerns regarding the NYC subway and pledged to increase NYPD presence on trains throughout the night. While this initiative is a positive step, it still leaves room for daytime assaults.
Recently, metro crime had spiked briefly in March, but a report from the NYPD in April indicated a 9% increase in felony assaults on the subway compared to the previous year and a 55% rise since 2019.
According to the NYPD, the first suspect is described as a woman between 25 and 30 years old with a light complexion and dark hair. Surveillance footage captured her wearing a black T-shirt, multicolored shorts, and white shoes.
The second woman, also believed to be in the same age range, has a light complexion and short orange hair. She was last seen in a pink shirt, blue jeans, and black sandals.
