A recent incident on the New York City subway left a Brooklyn man, Earlton Massenburg Jr., with a horrifying injury after a stranger randomly sliced his face open. Massenburg, a 31-year-old Amazon deliveryman, was on his way to work on a 4 train when he was attacked. He described waking up from a brief nap to the intense pain of his face being cut open by a sharp object wielded by the assailant. Despite the presence of cameras and police on the subway, Massenburg was shocked to be a victim of such a violent attack.
The attacker fled the scene at the Crown Heights-Utica Avenue station, leaving Massenburg to realize the extent of his injuries only after he alerted authorities and checked his phone’s camera. The gash on his face required numerous stitches and stretched from his hairline, across his right cheek, to his lip. The severity of the injury was evident as Massenburg described the wound as a horizontal line across his entire cheek.
The incident adds to a series of assaults on the subway system in New York City. Felony assaults in transit have seen a 6% decrease in the first two months of the year but have increased by 8% compared to the previous year and a staggering 56% compared to 2019. Misdemeanor assaults have also risen by 7%, with incidents ranging from punches to more severe attacks like the one suffered by Massenburg.
In response to the rise in subway crimes, the NYPD has increased patrols and implemented quality-of-life measures to address minor infractions as well. Despite these efforts, Massenburg’s attacker remains at large.
Massenburg, determined to move forward, returned to work the following day and continues to make his two-hour commute. While still processing the anger from the attack, he remains focused on his responsibilities and priorities. As the search for the perpetrator continues, Massenburg’s resilience and determination serve as a reminder of the strength of New Yorkers in the face of adversity.
