NOMAD, Manhattan — A woman was assaulted in what appears to be the fifth coronavirus-related hate crime in New York City, police said Tuesday
The 34-year-old victim was headed to the subway when she was attacked Monday evening near East 25th Street and Madison Avenue.
“You are the reason we have the coronavirus,” Lynn Ferguson allegedly said, according to police.
Ferguson allegedly spit in the victim’s face, then grabbed the woman’s hair when she tried to walk away, police said.
A traffic agent witnessed the incident and arrested Ferguson. She has at least two prior arrests and was charged with hate crime, aggravated harassment, criminal possession of marijuana and criminal possession of hypodermic instruments.
In Forest Hills, an Asian man and his 10-year-old son were targeted and in East Harlem, a man was attacked from behind. A woman was also attacked in Midtown Manhattan and a man was sprayed with Febreze on a train.
Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting www.nypdcrimestoppers.com, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
