Rush hour at the northbound Cypress Avenue station on the 6 line turned ugly when a 28-year-old MTA security gate guard was assaulted by a woman who allegedly crawled under the turnstile and struck him with a cellphone, police said. The Friday, June 12 attack, around 7:40 a.m., left the guard with a minor cut and bruising, and investigators are now circulating surveillance stills of the suspect while offering a reward for information that leads to an arrest.
🚨WANTED FOR AN ASSAULT: On Friday, June 12, 2026, at approximately 7:40 AM, the victim, a 28-year-old male MTA security gate guard was standing at the entrance gate at the northbound Cypress Avenue subway station "6" line, when an unidentified female individual asked to open the… pic.twitter.com/3RQhenGzaA
— NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) June 23, 2026
According to NYPD Crime Stoppers, the case is labeled "WANTED FOR AN ASSAULT" in a bulletin that notes the guard suffered a minor cut on his forehead. The post lists the northbound Cypress Avenue station on the 6 line as the location and urges anyone who recognizes the woman to reach out to investigators. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $3,500 for tips that lead to an arrest.
What police released
The NYPD Crime Stoppers program, which accepts anonymous leads via its hotline and X account, asks witnesses to preserve any cellphone or surveillance footage and share it directly with investigators, according to NYPD Crime Stoppers. Tipsters may be eligible for cash rewards if their information helps produce an arrest. Anyone with information can call 1-800-577-TIPS or send a direct message to @NYPDTips on X.
Why officials and unions are watching
Transit unions and federal regulators say assaults on front-line staff remain a major safety concern, a point they have been stressing as cases like this one continue to surface. Leaders of TWU Local 100 have repeatedly pressed the MTA for stronger protections after a string of attacks on bus and subway workers this spring, according to TWU Local 100. The Federal Transit Administration issued General Directive 24-1 last year, requiring agencies to identify and reduce risks tied to assaults on transit workers, underscoring that the problem reaches far beyond New York, according to FTA.
Recent Bronx incidents
The Cypress Avenue case follows other attacks on transit staff in the Bronx this year, from a March mezzanine ambush in Hunts Point to an employee parking-lot assault at East 180th Street, according to reporting on the Hunts Point ambush and the East 180th lot attack. Union officials say public tips and surveillance video have played a crucial role in several recent identifications and arrests.
How to help
Investigators are asking anyone who was at the Cypress Avenue station on the morning of June 12 and has video or information to hold onto it and share it privately with authorities. According to NYPD Crime Stoppers, tips can be sent via direct message to @NYPDTips on X or phoned in to 1-800-577-TIPS, and callers who help lead to an arrest may be eligible for a reward. Police are also reminding the public not to approach the suspect and to let law enforcement handle any identification or contact.
Legal note
Assaults on transit employees are treated as serious crimes under New York law, and local reporting notes that prosecutors can pursue felony charges carrying prison terms of up to seven years for attacks on MTA staff. The specific charges in this case will depend on what investigators uncover and on how prosecutors choose to proceed. For now, officers are focused on identifying the woman seen in the surveillance images and are urging anyone with relevant footage or information to contact the tip line.
