Crime Stoppers

Shunned lighter-seeker shoves woman to subway tracks in Brooklyn

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS

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Authorities are looking for a man who shoved a 62-year-old woman to the train tracks in Brooklyn when she ignored his request for a lighter early Thursday, officials say.

According to investigators, the woman was waiting on a northbound platform for the L train at the Jefferson Street station in Bushwick shortly before 6 a.m. when a stranger walked up to her and asked for a lighter.

The woman says she ignored the man -- and he then shoved her onto the train tracks. She didn't know him prior to the exhcnage.

A bystander helped the woman off the tracks. She was taken to Wyckoff Heights Medical Center with cuts to her left foot, but was conscious and alert.

Later Thursday evening, the NYPD released new video showing the suspect believed to be responsible for the attack. mHe was described as about 5-foot-11, and was last seen wearing a blue du-rag, a gray shirt, gray pants and white and pink sneakers.

Despite the attack, numbers from the NYPD show transit crime down more than 5% in 2024, with 1,487 crimes reported this year compared to more than 1,500 at the same time in 2023.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.

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