An assault in Chelsea has left a pregnant woman injured after she was struck in the head with a metal rod. The incident occurred just after 4 p.m. on Tuesday at the intersection of the Avenue of the Americas and West 18th Street, where the 35-year-old victim suffered pain and swelling from the attack, according to ABC7 New York.
Law enforcement sources said, the perpetrator, identified as Raquan El, 37, was apprehended later that same afternoon and now faces charges of assault and criminal possession of a weapon. A witness to the attack, Norman Ross, described the attacker to the New York Post as a "disheveled lunatic," adding that it was clear the victim did not know her assailant.
Ross, a 61-year-old accomplished weightlifter, recounted the experience, emphasizing the attacker's aggressive behavior. "He was angry and p—ed off and looking to smash people," Ross told the New York Post. Alongside his friend, Matthew Malin, a 6-foot-6 martial arts fighter, Ross attempted to intervene during the assault but admitted to feeling uneasy, especially when the attacker began threatening bystanders.
Following the intervention, and while trying to ensure their own safety, Ross witnessed the injured woman regain her footing and escape to her nearby apartment. After the outbreak of violence on the street, Ross and Malin assisted police in locating El by joining them in their cruiser, which resulted in his swift arrest. El was holding “his four-foot metal bar calmly walking down the street,” as Ross said ironically to the New York Post.
The suspect's history with law enforcement includes several prior arrests, ranging from forcible touching and sexual abuse, which happened as recently as July 2024, to criminal possession of a weapon, criminal trespassing, burglary, and a charge for allegedly evading a subway fare. ABC7 New York reported that just last Tuesday, El had pleaded guilty to one count of forcible touching, receiving a 30-day jail sentence – only to be released on the same day, possibly due to time already served on Rikers Island.
In response to the incident, Ross also made his way to the 13th Precinct to identify the assailant, ensuring his accountability for the attack on the pregnant woman, who, despite her ordeal, was able to identify El as well. After receiving proper medical attention at Bellevue Hospital, her condition was declared stable.
