Man Sentenced For Brutal Hammer Attack At NYC Station

NEW YORK CITY — A 60-year-old man has been sentenced in connection to a hammer attack of a woman at a Queens subway station back in 2022, prosecutors announced on Thursday.

William Blount was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison after brutally attacking a straphanger as she entered the Queens Plaza subway station in Long Island City on Feb. 24, 2022.

Blount was convicted of robbery in the first degree, assault in the first degree and other crimes back in April, Patch previously reported.

The 60-year-old approached 57-year-old Nina Rothschild from behind, kicked her down the stairs, and hit her in the head with a hammer 13 times before fleeing with the victim’s tote bag, prosecutors said.

This was an unprovoked attack that caught the attention of the entire country. A 57-year-old woman was blind sided as she entered the New York City subway system and kicked down the stairs by William Blount. The defendant then repeatedly struck her in the head with a hammer and stole the woman’s tote bag. I thank the survivor for testifying during this trial and bravely facing her attacker in court. Our transit system must be safe for everyone, and this conviction sends a strong message that those who cause mayhem on our subways will be brought to justice," Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said.

The victim was transported to a hospital, where she was treated for multiple skull fractures and underwent a bilateral craniectomy to repair her skull with titanium mesh. She also sustained a broken finger and other injuries.

The defendant was acquitted of attempted murder charges.