Brooklyn police are looking for a man who investigators say strangled a 16-year-old girl and forcibly kissed her on an R train at the 53rd Street station in Sunset Park. The assault happened on May 21 at about 10 a.m., and the suspect took off before officers arrived.
Investigators say the man walked up to the teen on board the R train, put his hands around her neck and applied pressure while kissing her on the lips, then ran from the station, according to News12 Brooklyn. Police have not announced an arrest, and the investigation remains open. Anyone with information is urged to contact authorities.
Where it happened
The 53rd Street station is at 53rd Street and Fourth Avenue in Sunset Park and is served by the R train, per the MTA. It is a local stop on the BMT Fourth Avenue Line and is used by neighborhood riders and commuters transferring through southwest Brooklyn.
Police ask for tips
Investigators are asking anyone who witnessed the assault or who may have video of it to call NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), as reported by News12 Brooklyn. Detectives say tips and footage can be crucial in identifying suspects in transit cases.
Context
The 53rd Street station has been the scene of other violence this year. In February a suspect allegedly shoved a 51-year-old woman onto the tracks and assaulted another rider at the same stop, according to ABC7 New York. City policing data show that while major felony crime has edged down overall in recent months, transit enforcement and certain assault figures have shifted, trends the NYPD records in its Mayoral Management Report, according to the NYPD.
Anyone with information about the May 21 assault is asked to call the NYPD tip line or their local precinct and to hold on to any video that might show the incident. Detectives say they will review footage and pursue credible leads as they work to find the suspect.
