Over the past year, random acts of violence have been on the rise throughout New York. In early November, a 37-year-old woman fell victim to an attack when she was violently shoved onto subway tracks in a Harlem train station.
Police say that the woman had been waiting on the A train platform, headed towards Brooklyn on November 5th at around 10:50 P.M. Investigators believe the suspect grabbed the woman by her hair before aggressively slashing her face with a razor blade. He then threw her down onto the subway tracks. Authorities believe the suspect then ran out of the station.
The horrific attack was only compounded by the fact that no one was around to help the victim. Thankfully, no train was entering the station at the time of the attack, and the injured woman was able to pull herself up and off the tracks. Since no one was around, the woman had to transport herself to the nearby Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital. There, she was treated for her injuries, and she reported the incident to the police.
Investigators looking into the attack discovered surveillance video footage that showed a 5-foot-9, 185-pound man with dreadlocks and a beard running out of the station around the time of the attack. Upon closer inspection, police were able to identify the suspect as 29-year-old Michael Blount.
This individual was recognized by the police because he’s a known offender in the area. Back in 2013, Blount was convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl, performing a criminal sex act, and robbery. This conviction resulted in a seven-year prison sentence. He was released in 2020, and his parole was meant to last until 2025. He was also a registered sex offender at the time of the attack, so police were able to use recent photographs of the suspect to compare to the video surveillance footage.
Now, authorities are seeking to track down Blount, who is on the run.
Subway Station Attacks and Violence
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in random, violent attacks on subway stations in New York. It’s important to understand that a subway attack would likely be considered assault, and if a weapon was used, like in the case above, then that would be charged as assault with a deadly weapon.
In New York, the penalties for a conviction of this crime will lead to a jail sentence of anywhere from five to 25 years depending on the circumstances. You could also face fines of up to $5,000.
Another factor to consider is that attackers can also be held financially responsible for their actions, too. A criminal conviction could require offenders to pay up to $15,000 to the victim in restitution depending on the severity of their injuries, losses, and the overall impact of the crime.
In general, the best way to manage criminal charges is to consult with a legal advocate about your situation. If you’re in New York or a nearby area, then our office can help.
Schedule a consultation call with our team now to discuss your legal situation in more detail with one of our lawyers.
