The assailant accused of attacking an Asian man with a hammer at a New York City subway station on Tuesday night was busted and charged with three hate crimes.
The 48-year-old attacker, Christian Jeffers, who identifies as a woman, faced multiple charges, including assault, aggravated harassment and menacing – all as hate crimes – for attacking a 29-year-old Asian man at the 14th Street-Union Square station, authorities said.
Jeffers allegedly bumped into the victim on the platform and launched the attack, which was caught on camera. The victim suffered a cut to the head and was transported to Bellevue Hospital where he received treatment.
Jeffers fled the scene on foot and was arrested on Wednesday night while reportedly jumping the turnstile at a station farther west on the 14th Street subway line, sources said.
The hammer Jeffers used to attack the Asian man was recovered from his handbag, according to sources.
Jeffers reportedly lashed out at two cops who were taking him into Manhattan central booking ahead of his arraignment. The suspect loudly accused the officers of “pushing” him near the door to the facility.
“Why you doing that?” “Why you pushing me? “Stop, stop,” she screamed as the officers escorting him into the building.
The victim told the New York Post in a Wednesday interview that New Yorkers are fed up with out-on-control violence on the subway system.
“We’re trying to live our lives as well as we can, you know, and it’s just unfortunate that we have to face all these adversities, along with just all the struggles in life,” the victim said. “It’s just unnecessary conflict and it sucks. It’s unfortunate, you know, the city is the way it is,” he added. “Obviously, something has to happen, something has to change.”
