MTA Worker Brutally Beat By Fare Evaders At NYC Subway Station, Cops Say

BROOKLYN, NY — An MTA employee was brutally attacked at a Brooklyn subway station by two women allegedly trying to skip the fare, police said.

Marshalee Reid, 51, was helping an elderly man when she confronted two fare evaders who allegedly punched her and slashed her with keys around 1:15 p.m. last Saturday at the New Lots Avenue No. 3 train station in East New York, according to police and the Transport Workers Union.

At the time of the attack, Reid was on restricted duty while recovering from brain surgery she had undergone the previous year, the Transport Workers Union added.

Reid was helping the elderly person exit through the emergency gate when she noticed one of the unidentified women jump over the turnstile without paying. She confronted the woman, asking her to come back through the open door and pay the fare.

At that moment, a second woman also tried to pass through the emergency door, and Reid told her she needed to pay as well, according to the Transport Workers Union.

According to the NYPD, the two individuals approached Reid as she attempted to explain that they needed to pay the fare, then began assaulting her—repeatedly punching her in the face and other parts of her body.

After Reid was pushed to the ground, one of the women allegedly pulled out a set of keys and began slashing her, police added.

Both suspects fled the scene as EMS arrived and rushed Reid to Brookdale Hospital Medical Center, where she was listed in stable condition.

Police are still searching for two women involved in the attack.

The first is described as a light-complexioned female, approximately 25 to 30 years old, with short black hair. She was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, multicolored shorts and white shoes.

The second suspect is also a light-complexioned female, around the same age, with short orange hair. She was last seen wearing a pink shirt, blue jeans and black sandals.

At a press conference, Local 100 President John Chiarello said he had not received any calls from MTA CEO Janno Lieber regarding assaulted station agents. He urged Lieber to contact him and work together to increase police presence in hot spots where station agents and other TWU Local 100 members face heightened risks.

"This station agent deserved to leave work the way she arrived, and when the NYPD catches the suspects—which they will—we will be at the courthouse to insist that maximum justice is delivered for our colleague," NYC Transit President Crichlow told CBS News in a statement.

Robert Kelley, Vice President for Stations, said he hopes the alleged assailant receives a minimum sentence of seven years in prison. “They used to hand out desk appearance tickets. Now, these perpetrators are being arrested,” he said.

Anyone with information on the suspect’s identity or whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.