A 14-year-old has been arrested in connection with an attack on a black teen on the New York City subway in which he was beaten by three men who shouted racial slurs at him, police said.
Friday’s beating was captured on cellphone video, in which a girl grabs the 15-year-old victim by her shirt and demands she walks. The video shows the victim struggling to get away from the girl.
At one point, the video shows the victim walking onto a northbound train at 181st Street and Fort Washington Avenue, but the girl pulls him onto the platform. Someone can be heard shouting the n-word in the background.
The video shows that the victim was eventually surrounded and thrashed by the three men.
The 14-year-old boy, arrested in connection with the attack, was charged with aggravated assault, assault, harassment, and making threats. The police did not release his name.
The New York City Police Department stated that “bystanders began making anti-Black statements before the victim was struck multiple times in the head and body.”
“As a result, the victim suffered pain and bruises on his lip as well as about the body.”
The boy was taken by ambulance to the hospital, according to the NYPD. It is not clear what led to the fight.
Police said the three men, who were “unknown” to the victim, fled after the fight. Authorities released photos of them on Facebook Monday, saying they were wanted in connection with the assault.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Unit.
Richard Dewey, president of New York City Transit, condemned the attack.
“The video is heartbreaking and disturbing and our hearts are with the young man who appears to be suffering senselessly. No one should be subjected to such despicable harassment while they ride with New York City Transit.” are doing, and the MTA is cooperating fully with the NYPD.” into the investigation of the incident,” he said.