Moment New Yorkers take down violent prowler after he punches woman on street amid flurry of random

August 2024 ยท 6 minute read

A crowd of New Yorkers were filmed banding together against a man seen punching a woman in a seemingly random attack.

The attack occurred on 14th and Seventh Avenue, and was caught on camera by an apartment dweller overhead.

It comes amid a rash of reports of women being assaulted on city streets, though, in this case, the attack was thwarted by a group of complete strangers.

They are seen descending on the man within seconds of him hitting the middle-aged victim, leaving him unconscious on the pavement. The crowd then disperses into the night - as if nothing ever happened. 

It is unclear when the incident took place, but the footage was circulating Monday. DailyMail.com has reached out to the NYPD for comment, as the attacks - mostly confined to the Lower East Side and Chelsea - continue.

STREET JUSTICE: A crowd of New Yorkers were filmed banding together against a man seen punching a woman in an attack recently. It comes amid a rash of reports of women being assaulted on city streets, though, in this case, the attack was thwarted by a group of strangers

STREET JUSTICE: A crowd of New Yorkers were filmed banding together against a man seen punching a woman in an attack recently. It comes amid a rash of reports of women being assaulted on city streets, though, in this case, the attack was thwarted by a group of strangers

The initial attack occurred on 14th and Seventh Avenue, and was caught on camera by an apartment dweller overhead. Both the man and the victim have yet to be identified

The initial attack occurred on 14th and Seventh Avenue, and was caught on camera by an apartment dweller overhead. Both the man and the victim have yet to be identified

The clip, shared to the subreddit r/PublicFreakout, begins with the the man hurling one of two punches at the unsuspecting woman, as she seemingly attempts to move away.

The blow appears to hit her in the back of the head, but she is surprisingly unaffected.

At this point, several others on the street seem to catch wind of what is occurring, taking out their phones as others appear to call for help.

The woman continues to move away as the assailant advances, now cornering her against a Duane Reade.

He then throws another blow again at full-force, but within a second, was struck himself.

Two men from opposite ends of the frame suddenly appear and offer punches of their own, both of which land at the exact same time.

The aggressor falls to the floor in a dazed state, but the battle does not end there.

A vicious beating administered by the two men and at least five others who at this point have joined in ensues, complete with a series of punches and stomps. 

The clip, shared to the subreddit r/PublicFreakout , begins with the the man hurling one of two punches at the unsuspecting woman, as she seemingly attempts to move away. He then throws another blow at full-force, but within a second, was struck himself

The clip, shared to the subreddit r/PublicFreakout , begins with the the man hurling one of two punches at the unsuspecting woman, as she seemingly attempts to move away. He then throws another blow at full-force, but within a second, was struck himself

Two men from opposite ends of the frame suddenly appear and offer punches of their own, both of which land at the exact same time. The initial aggressor then falls to the floor in a dazed state, but the battle does not end there

Two men from opposite ends of the frame suddenly appear and offer punches of their own, both of which land at the exact same time. The initial aggressor then falls to the floor in a dazed state, but the battle does not end there

A barrage of blows from the two men and at least five others ensues, rife with a series of punches and stomps.

A barrage of blows from the two men and at least five others ensues, rife with a series of punches and stomps.

As this is happening, one of the first to jump in circles back to lead the woman away from the chaos

As this is happening, one of the first to jump in circles back to lead the woman away from the chaos

By the end of the clip, the attacker is out-cold on the sidewalk, and the crowd of vigilantes slip away into the night. DailyMail.com has reached out to the NYPD for comment

By the end of the clip, the attacker is out-cold on the sidewalk, and the crowd of vigilantes slip away into the night. DailyMail.com has reached out to the NYPD for comment

In a simultaneous - and somewhat heartwarming - display, one of the first to jump in circles back to lead the woman away from the continuing chaos. 

By the end if the clip, the attacker is out-cold on the sidewalk, and the crowd of vigilantes slip away into the night.

Official reports of the encounter have yet to be aired, but it is consistent with a string of similar attacks that have occurred blocks away.

Late last month, two men were charged in separate incidents that were the subject of recent TikTok videos in which female victims said they were punched by strangers in the streets.

At least four similar attacks have occurred in the days immediately before or since, , causing concern amongst women across the five boroughs.

On March 27, cops arrested 40-year-old Skiboky Stora, a fringe, failed gubernatorial candidate who they say assaulted TikTok influencer Halley Kate Mcgookin near West 16th Street and Seventh on March 25.

The next day, cops arrested Mallik Miah, a 30-year-old Brooklyn man charged with assaulting TikToker Mikayla Toninato in Greenwich Village on March 25.

Official reports of the encounter have yet to be aired, but it is consistent with a string of similar attacks that have occurred blocks away

Official reports of the encounter have yet to be aired, but it is consistent with a string of similar attacks that have occurred blocks away

The attacks - mostly confined to the Lower East Side and Chelsea -have been chronicled by some of the victims on TikTok, as cops have made at least two arrests, Picutres is  TikTok influencer Halley Kate Mcgookin, who was hit near West 16th Street and Seventh on March 25

The attacks - mostly confined to the Lower East Side and Chelsea -have been chronicled by some of the victims on TikTok, as cops have made at least two arrests, Picutres is  TikTok influencer Halley Kate Mcgookin, who was hit near West 16th Street and Seventh on March 25

The next day, cops arrested a 30-year-old Brooklyn man charged with assaulting TikToker Mikayla Toninato (pictured in Greenwich Village on March 25.

The next day, cops arrested a 30-year-old Brooklyn man charged with assaulting TikToker Mikayla Toninato (pictured in Greenwich Village on March 25. 

Another TikTokker shared a video last week, on March 17, telling users that she had been randomly punched in New York City as well. 'I literally just got punched by some man on the sidewalk,' Olivia Brand said in her video - which has almost four million views In a video that has gained 7.4 million views, TikTokker Mikayla Toninato revealed that she got punched in the face when she was walking home from class

Several other woman have since claimed they have also been victims of random violence

The 27-year-old student at the Parsons School of Design was near Fifth Avenue and East 12th when she was struck at about 2pm.

Toninato, as several other alleged victims have, posted a video to the social media platform right after being punched.

Police are looking into a litany of other random assaults, all involving women.

On March 17 at 11:48 am at Kenmare and Mulberry Streets, 25-year-old TikToker Olivia Brand said she was struck by a man who initially apologized to her.

'He goes "sorry" and punches me in the head,' she says in a video posted that day. 'What the hell is happening?'

A 36-year-old woman was then punched in the back on March 25 at 10:15am, while walking at Rivington and Chrystie Streets on the Lower East Side, cops said.

The next day, around noon, a 24-year-old woman was attacked by a man who slammed the left side of her head with his elbow while she traversed Seventh Avenue near 39th Street, the NYPD confirmed.

That same day, a 24-year-old woman was hit in the head by a stranger in the Flatiron District, police said. 

The first suspect in the random attacks, Skiboky Stora, 40, was arraigned in court on Thursday in connection with the seemingly random attack on Halley Kate McGookin

The first suspect in the random attacks, Skiboky Stora, 40, was arraigned in court on Thursday in connection with the seemingly random attack on Halley Kate McGookin

An up close shot of the suspect who punched the 23-year-old in Chelsea. Police have yet to apprehend him, but he is described as having a medium build and medium complexion

An up close shot of the suspect who punched the 23-year-old in Chelsea. Police have yet to apprehend him, but he is described as having a medium build and medium complexion

In that case, the victim was walking along Sixth Avenue near 23rd St. about 12:45 p.m. in Chelsea, when the suspect - seen in surveillance footage - walked up and punched her in the head.

He is seen in video running off without saying a word. He is still at large, and the woman wasn't seriously hurt. 

DailyMail.com has reached out to the NYPD for more information about the most recent incident.

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