A 28-year-old woman was choked until she struggled to breathe and punched in the face aboard a BX4 bus in the Bronx after accidentally bumping into another passenger, and police still haven't caught the attacker nearly three weeks later. The assault unfolded around 4 p.m. on Sept. 9 as the bus approached Webster Avenue and East Fordham Road in Fordham.
The victim had just stepped onto a crowded bus when she bumped into a female passenger by accident, according to amNewYork. What followed was a verbal argument that quickly turned violent: the outlet reports the woman grabbed the victim by the neck and began punching the left side of her face.
The attacker didn't stop there. She also choked the victim to the point where she had difficulty breathing, per the same account, before stepping off the bus and disappearing in an unknown direction. The incident was reported to the NYPD's 52nd Precinct.
Victim Hospitalized With Bruising and Breathing Trouble
EMS rushed the victim to New York-Presbyterian Allen Hospital, where she was listed in stable condition. Her injuries were described as non-life-threatening but included bruising, shoulder ailments and difficulty breathing, the report notes.
As of publication, no arrests had been made in the case. Police have released images of the suspect in hopes that someone will recognize her, describing her as a woman between 35 and 40 years old who was last seen wearing a black shirt and black pants.
A Pattern of Violence on Bronx Buses
This is not the only recent attack on a Bronx bus rider making headlines. News 12 reported that the NYPD is still searching for a suspect who punched a 68-year-old woman in the head and face with closed fists back in July, on a bus at East 170th Street and Grand Concourse. That victim was treated at a hospital for bruises to her face and neck.
Another case saw a man allegedly use a razor blade to slash a 19-year-old woman in the face on a westbound BX4 bus after a dispute over personal space, according to ABC7 New York. That victim was taken to Jacobi Hospital in serious condition, and police described the suspect as a Black man between 25 and 30 years old, about 5 feet 10 inches tall with a medium complexion, weighing 160 pounds and last seen wearing a black durag and black hooded jacket.
What the Broader Transit Numbers Show
The Bronx incidents come as citywide transit crime statistics tell a mixed story. Police have pointed to three transit murders so far this year, compared to none at the start of 2025, though officials maintain 2025 was the safest year on the subways since 2009.
In response, the NYPD says it plans to add 175 officers underground, on top of 750 officers already added by the governor. A separate stabbing captured attention on the subway system itself, with a 27-year-old man stabbed in the stomach on a southbound No. 4 train at the Wall Street station and hospitalized in stable condition.
How to Help Identify the Suspect
Police are asking anyone with information that could help identify the woman from the BX4 bus attack to come forward. Tipsters can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS, or in Spanish at 888-57-PISTA, submit a tip online at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, or reach out on X at @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
