Suspect Arrested for Beating Woman with Cane in NYC Subway
In a shocking incident caught on video, a suspect has been apprehended for assaulting a 60-year-old woman with her own cane in a New York City subway station. Norton Blake, a 43-year-old resident of the Bronx, was arrested and now faces assault charges related to this brutal attack.
The incident occurred at around 3:20 a.m. on a Friday near the West 116th Street and Lenox Avenue subway station in Harlem. The graphic video footage shows Blake, identified by authorities as the assailant, swinging an umbrella at the woman. Initially, she tried to defend herself with her cane, but the attacker managed to seize it.
What followed was a horrifying assault lasting approximately two minutes, during which Blake struck the victim more than 50 times with her own cane. The blows landed all over her body, causing severe injuries to her head, hands, legs, arms, and stomach.
At one point, the woman briefly regained control of the cane, causing the assailant’s pants to fall. However, he responded by using his fists to strike her and repeatedly hit her head. The woman eventually lay motionless on the ground as the attacker yelled at her and kicked her several times.
The victim sustained swelling and pain throughout her body as a result of the relentless beating. She was promptly taken to NYC Health and Hospitals/Harlem in stable condition.
According to NYPD Chief of Transit Michael Kemper, the altercation appeared to stem from an argument between the woman and Blake as they ascended the subway station stairs.
Notably, Blake has a history of prior arrests, with nine previous encounters with the law, including alleged assault, drug possession, trespassing, resisting arrest, tampering with evidence, and possessing stolen property. In 2017, he served a 45-day jail sentence after pleading guilty to third-degree assault for pushing a police officer who was attempting to handcuff him in another subway station.
This disturbing incident highlights the need for improved safety measures in public spaces and serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and reporting suspicious activities.
Please note that this article covers a distressing event, and our thoughts are with the victim as she recovers from this traumatic experience.