Manhattan's District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. has indicted Daquan Armstead, 32, for a spate of attacks specifically targeting women. The announcement made earlier today details charges that include three counts of Assault in the Third Degree as a Hate Crime and two counts of Attempted Assault in the Third Degree as a Hate Crime, among several others. According to court documents, Armstead engaged in a series of unsolicited, gender-based acts of violence during the spring of 2024 across various locations in Manhattan.
Victims of these assaults described sudden and uncalled-for aggression. For instance, on March 25 of last year, Armstead allegedly approached a 36-year-old woman near Chrystie Street and Rivington Street and punched her, causing substantial pain. Similar incidents followed in rapid succession, targeting women of various ages and in different neighborhoods, with assaults resulting in significant injury, including a fractured cheekbone and black eyes. Court documents detail seven separate instances of aggravated harassment.
Assistant D.A. Mark Luciano is leading the prosecution, with an investigative team that includes Detectives Redmond Halpern and Howard Kwok of the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force and Police Officer Ravi Balgobin of the 13th Precinct in tow. Armstead's arrest was made at a shelter in the Bronx, putting an end to his alleged string of offenses. Armstead will be tried for his alleged crimes, with the Hate Crimes Unit, led by Chief Hannah Yu, Deputy Chief Constantine Coritsidis, and Executive D.A. Lisa DelPizzo of the Trial Division overseeing the proceedings.
"Manhattan is no place for discrimination and hatred and we will continue seeking justice for these victims," D.A. Bragg said in a statement obtained by the Manhattan District Attorney's office. This case mirrors a resolve to address hate crimes with the gravity they merit and to ensure the safety of communities regardless of gender, race, or belief systems. The D.A.'s thanks went out to the NYPD for their collaborative efforts in bringing the suspect into custody.
