Woman Forcibly Touched on Subway; East Harlem Man Shot in Head

Disturbing Incidents of sexual assault in the subway system—most perpetrated against women by men—continue to be reported. Sometimes they are given are a less frightening name: forcible touching, and because most forcible-touching cases are misdemeanors, they are rarely commented upon by those who lean heavily on “index felonies” as their barometer for public safety.

Add in the obstacles in reporting such crimes—starting with the fact that most people on the subway are going somewhere that doesn’t include time to sit down with Transit cops after they’re grabbed or grinded upon—and the problem is certainly more pervasive than public dialogue indicates.

Thus the common perception that the subways are still pretty dangerous, especially for women.

As for forcible touching, if you feel something, say something, if possible. The cops are there to help, as the following report from the confines of the 17th Precinct / Transit District 4 indicates. Details are as follows:

On Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, at approximately 11am, a 38-year-old female victim was exiting the 59th Street train station when she was approached by an unidentified individual.

The individual made unwanted contact with the victim’s buttocks while walking up the staircase and then fled on foot, traveling southbound on Lexington Avenue. There were no injuries reported as a result of this incident.

The sought individual is described as a male with a dark complexion and slim build. He was last seen wearing a black jacket, black headwrap, black sunglasses, gray jeans, and gray-and-black sneakers.

East Harlem Man Shot Outside Public Housing Complex

Even in the wake of the abhorrent shooting death of East Harlem grandma Robin Wright, senseless gun violence continues to plague parts of the neighborhood, especially in and around its public housing projects.

Most recently, a man was shot outside the Jefferson Houses NYCHA complex. Opened in 1959, the eight-acre complex runs from First Avenue to Third Avenue and from East 112th to East 115th Street.

A vestigial part of East 113th Street contains two schools on opposite ends of these stunted blocks: Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic school and the P.S. 102 Jacques Cartier school.

Thankfully, school was out on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, when at approximately 9:09pm, police responded to a 911 of an assault outside of 310 E. 113th St., within the confines of the 23 Precinct/ PSA 5.

Upon arrival officers located a 23-year-old male with a gunshot wound to the head. EMS responded and transported the victim to Harlem Hospital in critical but stable condition.

There are no arrests and the investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, on X @NYPDTips.

All calls are strictly confidential.