New York, NY — A 71-year-old woman valiantly fended off a group of teenage assailants during an attempted robbery on New Year’s Day, underscoring the ongoing issue of violent crimes in New York City’s subway system. The senior, identified as Linda Rosa, was on her way to a church service in Brooklyn when the incident unfolded on a Number 3 train at the Hoyt Station around 6 p.m.
According to police reports, four young females targeted Rosa, attempting to snatch her bag and assaulting her. Despite the physical attack which included punches and kicks, the elderly straphanger fought back fiercely, managing to retain some of her belongings and escape further harm. The attackers fled the scene and are currently sought by the NYPD.
Videos released by police show the suspects smiling as they passed through the subway turnstiles shortly after the attack, highlighting their apparent disregard for the severity of their actions. Authorities have appealed to the public for assistance in identifying and capturing the assailants.
Rosa recounted the harrowing ordeal, detailing how she resisted by grabbing and twisting the hair of one of her attackers in a desperate self-defense maneuver. “I grabbed her braids and twirled them around my right hand, and pulled her down,” Rosa explained. Her actions caused the teens to eventually retreat, allowing Rosa to proceed to the nearby Brooklyn Tabernacle Church.
Once at the church, staff provided immediate assistance and contacted emergency services. Rosa was treated for minor injuries at The Brooklyn Hospital Center and later released in stable condition. Reflecting on the incident, she expressed relief that the attackers were not armed and grateful the confrontation did not result in more severe health consequences.
Despite her traumatic experience, Rosa displayed remarkable forgiveness toward her attackers, attributing their actions to youthful folly and a lack of awareness of the consequences. “They do not know what they do,” she said, emphasizing her hope that the teens would realize the gravity of their actions.
The attack on Rosa is part of a disturbing trend of violence in the city’s public transit system. Just one day earlier, a 45-year-old man was critically injured after being shoved onto subway tracks in Manhattan. These incidents occurred in the wake of a brutal attack earlier in the month, where a woman was fatally set on fire aboard a subway car in Brooklyn.
These consecutive violent incidents have raised concerns about safety on New York City’s subways, despite assurances from state officials, including Governor Kathy Hochul, who has repeatedly touted the transit system’s safety. The recent spate of crimes, particularly affecting vulnerable populations like seniors, has ignited debates about the adequacy of current safety measures and law enforcement presence in the subway system.
As the NYPD intensifies its search for the suspects and the community grapples with safety concerns, Rosa’s story serves as a stark reminder of the resilience often required in the face of urban crime, and the ongoing challenges in ensuring safety for all who traverse the sprawling subway network.