A commuter tried to stop a man from harassing a woman while riding a subway train through Forest Hills on Wednesday afternoon and wound up being stabbed for his trouble, police reported.
Law enforcement sources said the incident took place at 5 p.m. on Sept. 26 inside a Jamaica-bound F train as it stopped at the 75th Avenue station, below the intersection of 75th Avenue and Queens Boulevard.
According to published reports, the 49-year-old male commuter witnessed the suspect harassing a female passenger and decided to intervene.
Police said the commuter then got into an verbal argument with the man that quickly turned violent when the suspect pulled out a knife and stabbed the victim in the chest and leg.
Seconds later, the assailant exited the train at the 75th Avenue station and fled in an unknown direction. Before he fled, however, another train rider managed to take cellphone images of the suspect; they were later submitted to police as part of their investigation.
Officers from the 112th Precinct and the NYPD Transit Bureau responded to the incident. Paramedics rushed the injured man to Jamaica Hospital, where he was treated and released.
Cops describe the assailant as a black man believed to be 45 years of age, standing about 6 feet tall and weighing 220 pounds with brown eyes, a dark complexion, a medium build and a gray beard. He was last observed wearing a tan cap, a gray sweatshirt, black pants and black sneakers.
Anyone with information regarding the suspect’s whereabouts can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA), visit the Crime Stoppers website or send a text message to 274637 (CRIMES), then enter TIP577. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
