A quiet early-morning commute in Queens turned ugly when, according to police, a 59-year-old man who uses a wheelchair was assaulted on the overpass at the Junction Boulevard subway station on May 4.
Investigators say the attacker pulled the victim out of his wheelchair around 6:27 a.m. and punched him multiple times in the face before running off on foot. The victim was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries and is expected to recover. Detectives have been combing through camera footage from the station as they work to identify the suspect.
NYPD Asks Public For Tips
The NYPD has released surveillance stills and is asking for the public’s help. Anyone with information is urged to call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), submit tips online via NYPD Crime Stoppers, or text 274637 (CRIMES) and then enter TIP577.
Police say the suspect was last seen in blue jeans, a purple sweatshirt and multicolored sneakers. Investigators are also asking riders who may have filmed the confrontation or its aftermath to hang on to any video and share it with detectives.
Surveillance Details
As first reported by PIX11, the assault took place on the station overpass that serves the 7 train in Corona. Police say the assailant hit the victim with a closed fist multiple times before bolting from the scene.
Witnesses told reporters the attack, unfolding just after sunrise, rattled riders who were simply trying to get to work. By the time officers arrived, the suspect was gone, and police say the investigation remains active.
Safety Concerns For Disabled Riders
Advocates for riders with disabilities say incidents like this underscore how vulnerable some subway users can be, especially on platforms and mezzanines where help is not always close at hand. They argue that assaults on people who use wheelchairs highlight the need for stronger protections throughout the system.
Transit officials often point to increased camera coverage and more visible patrols as standard tools in response to violent incidents. Neighbors and regular commuters say this episode has left some riders more wary of traveling in the early-morning hours.
How To Help
Anyone with information is asked to contact the NYPD Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), submit tips at NYPD Crime Stoppers, or send a direct message to @NYPDTips. Spanish speakers can call 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). All tips are confidential, and police say they are particularly interested in hearing from anyone who has video footage or firsthand accounts of what happened on that overpass.
