Straphanger, 65, Punched In Unprovoked UWS Subway Attack, Police Say

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — A straphanger was repeatedly punched during an unprovoked attack in an Upper West Side train station Wednesday night, according to the NYPD.

The 65-year-old man was attacked from behind in the 1, 2 and 3 train station at West 72nd Street and Broadway about 10:25 p.m., according to an NYPD spokeswoman.

“It looks like someone just came up behind him and punched him,” said an NYPD spokesperson.“No statements were made.”

A man punched the 65-year-old in the back then, when the straphanger turned around, punched him in the face, said police.

The attacker, who was with a woman, then hopped a northbound 2 train when it arrived, added police.

That's when the 65-year-old decided to play detective, said police.

Despite his injuries, the man followed the man and woman to West 110th Street and Central Park North, said police.

He watched the pair walk eastbound on West 110th Street, then reported the incident to police, according to the NYPD.

Police did not believe that the assault was a hate crime or an attempted robbery at the time of publication, said the spokeswoman.

Early Friday morning, the NYPD released photos of the suspect, whom they describe as being about 25 years old, standing 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 165 pounds and sporting a man bun.

He was last seen wearing a blue baseball hat, a white t-shirt, black shorts and black sneakers, police said.

The woman is described as approximately 25-years-old, thin build and long, brown hair, said police.

She was last seen wearing a red tank top, black shorts, black sneakers and pushing a white suitcase, police added.

Anyone with information in regard to 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).