New York, NY — A 26-year-old man faces hate crime charges after prosecutors say he targeted and assaulted a stranger inside a Manhattan subway station while repeatedly using anti-gay slurs during the attack.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced Thursday that Tavaughn Thompson was indicted on charges tied to a December 2023 assault at the 125th Street subway station in West Harlem. Prosecutors allege Thompson punched a 27-year-old victim multiple times after the two exited a northbound A train near West 125th Street and Eighth Avenue.
The victim suffered bruising and pain to the left side of the face and later went to a hospital for treatment, according to court records.
Alleged Attack Happened After Subway Ride
According to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, Thompson and the victim were riding in the same subway car on a northbound A train traveling from the West 14th Street and Eighth Avenue station on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023.
At about 8:35 p.m., prosecutors say the confrontation escalated as both men exited the train at the 125th Street station. Thompson allegedly punched the victim several times while repeatedly shouting anti-gay slurs before and during the attack.
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A bystander intervened and separated Thompson from the victim, prosecutors said.
Thompson now faces two counts of Assault in the Third Degree as a Hate Crime and one count of Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree in New York State Supreme Court.
Key Points
• Manhattan prosecutors charged a 26-year-old man in an alleged anti-gay subway assault in Harlem
• The attack allegedly happened at the 125th Street A train station on Dec. 29, 2023
• Prosecutors say a Good Samaritan intervened before the victim sought hospital treatment
Bragg Calls Subway Hate Violence “Unacceptable”
District Attorney Bragg said the case highlights ongoing concerns about bias-motivated violence in New York City’s transit system.
“New Yorkers deserve to be safe using our transit system without fear of violence, discrimination or harassment,” Bragg said in a statement announcing the indictment.
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“As alleged, Tavaughn Thompson targeted a stranger because of their perceived sexual orientation in an unprovoked, bias-motivated attack,” he added. “Our Hate Crimes Unit is committed to protecting the safety and dignity of Manhattanites by holding accountable those responsible for these harmful acts.”
Bragg also encouraged victims and witnesses of suspected hate crimes to contact prosecutors by calling the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office Hate Crimes Unit hotline at 212-335-3100.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney John Ludtke of Trial Bureau 60 under the supervision of the Manhattan DA’s Hate Crimes Unit leadership, including Deputy Chief Constantine Coritsidis and Chief Hannah Yu.
Arrest Came More Than Two Years After Alleged Assault
Although the alleged assault occurred in late 2023, Thompson was arrested and arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court in February 2026, according to prosecutors. Officials did not publicly explain the delay between the incident and the arrest.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office credited the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force for assisting in the investigation, specifically thanking Detective Lysette Feliciano Tengco and other task force members.
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The case arrives as New York officials continue facing scrutiny over safety concerns across the city’s subway system, particularly incidents involving harassment and violence targeting vulnerable communities.
Hate crime prosecutions in New York require prosecutors to prove a criminal act was motivated, at least in part, by bias against a protected group, including sexual orientation.
Investigation Remains Active
Court records indicate Thompson has been formally indicted, but prosecutors have not announced a trial date or disclosed additional details about the victim.
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