In a troubling incident early Tuesday morning, three men, including two older individuals, were hurt in a series of random assaults on the subway, according to police reports.
The chaos began around 12:25 a.m. on a northbound A train at Ozone Park Lefferts Boulevard in Queens, when an uncontrolled man attacked a 32-year-old commuter with a metal rod. The attack resulted in a noticeable cut on the victim’s neck, though he declined medical assistance at the scene.
Authorities identified the assailant as Wesley Saintville, 27, who was apprehended shortly after the incident and is facing felony charges. While police noted that nine arrests have been made linked to Saintville, the details of most were sealed, with only three remaining public. His last known arrest was in August for a petty theft in Upper Manhattan.
Earlier in the morning, another man, suspected to be associated with a homeless veterans’ housing facility, reportedly assaulted a 61-year-old man who was smoking outside. After that, just after 6 a.m., a different individual attacked a 71-year-old man, repeatedly punching and kicking him on the southbound A train platform at 175th Street. The elderly victim sustained multiple cuts and was transported to Harlem Hospital in stable condition.
Police are searching for a dark-skinned man who fled the scene of the second attack wearing a navy blue sweatshirt, gray pants, and a black backpack.
The violence escalated during the morning rush hour when a 65-year-old man was assaulted by a stranger aboard a southbound L train at Third Avenue Station in the East Village. The altercation arose after the victim asked another commuter occupying space above him to step down, which led to a confrontation. After a struggle, the assailant punched the victim in the back of the head, leaving a substantial bump.
The victim exited the train and received treatment from paramedics, while the assailant, described as a man in his 30s wearing a gray sweater with a gold chain, remained on board and has yet to be apprehended.
Overall, assaults on the subway system have seen a slight rise this year, with the New York City Police Department reporting 476 assaults on trains as of Sunday, compared to 462 incidents during the same timeframe last year.
