Brooklyn, NY – A verbal dispute turned violent aboard a northbound L train when a woman sprayed a 68-year-old man in the face with pepper spray at the Halsey Street station, before fleeing the scene on foot.
The incident unfolded around 5:50 p.m. on Sunday as the train was pulling into the station in Bushwick. According to reports made to police, the unidentified woman approached the man and began a verbal altercation without warning. During the confrontation, she pulled out a canister of pepper spray and discharged it directly at the victim.
The man suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene, officials said. There was no word on what sparked the argument or whether the two individuals knew each other.
The attacker fled the train station and remains at large. Investigators are working to identify the suspect, who is described as approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing 125 pounds, with long brown hair and a light complexion. She was last seen wearing a green shirt and blue shorts.
Police are reviewing surveillance footage from the subway platform and surrounding areas in an effort to track the suspect’s movements following the attack.
The incident adds to growing concerns over passenger safety in New York City’s transit system, where assaults and altercations have been under scrutiny in recent months.
No arrests have been made and the investigation remains ongoing.
