An MTA worker who was recovering from brain surgery was “viciously” beaten in broad daylight on Saturday by two women allegedly trying to jump the turnstile to avoid paying the subway fare in Brooklyn, police said.
The NYPD are still searching for the women behind the alleged attack.
Around 1:15 p.m., 51-year-old Marshalee Reid was working on the mezzanine level of the New Lots Avenue subway station on the 3 line in East New York on restricted duty, since she was still recuperating from brain surgery she underwent last year, the Transport Workers Union said.
Reid stopped to help an elderly person exit through the emergency gate when one of the accused women leapt over the turnstile. A second soon followed and slipped through the open emergency exit, according to the TWU.
The two pivoted as Reid tried to explain that they had to pay the fare and started to beat her, even whipping out a set of keys and slashing her with it. They also repeatedly punched Reid in the face and other parts of her body, according to the NYPD.
Both suspects fled as EMS responded and transported Reid to Brookdale Hospital Medical Center in stable condition.
Now, the NYPD is asking for help tracking down the women involved while MTA representatives seek justice.
Robert Kelley, Vice President for stations, is hoping for a minimum of seven years in prison for the alleged assailants — a punishment Reid seconded. Both said they firmly believe the NYPD will be successful in tracking down the women.
“They used to give out desk appearance tickets. Now these perpetrators are being arrested,” Kelley said.
“There are consequences for their crime. I want people to know that they have to stop assaulting city workers,” Reid added.
In Gov. Kathy Hochul’s January “State of the State” address, she publicly acknowledged the dismal safety resources on NYC subways and pledged to post NYPD officers inside every overnight train.
The effort, while a step in the right direction, still left openings for daylight crime like the assault that hospitalized Reid.
In March, New Yorkers saw a brief dip in subway crime that only lasted a month. The NYPD’s findings in April revealed that felony assaults on subways were actually up 9% from 2024 and a staggering 55% from 2019.
The first woman who jumped the turnstile was described as being between 25 and 30 years old with a light complexion and cropped black hair, according to the NYPD. Surveillance footage of the attack last captured her wearing a black t-shirt, multicolored shorts and white shoes.
The second woman who skirted through the emergency door was also described as between 25 and 30 years old with a light complexion and short orange hair, according to the NYPD. She was last captured on surveillance footage wearing a pink shirt, blue jeans and black sandals.
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