A guy has been arrested in connection with a 'brutal' hammer attack at a New York subway station.

At a news conference on Friday afternoon, NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig claimed the suspect kicked and beat the victim "several times" before fleeing on foot with her purse. Nina Rothschild, a scientist for the New York City Department of Health, was identified by the woman's relatives. She was assaulted 15 minutes after leaving work, according to authorities.

Feb 28, 2022 - 12:46 Updated: Feb 28, 2022 - 13:36

A guy has been arrested in connection with a 'brutal' hammer attack at a New York subway station.

According to the New York City Police Department, a guy was detained on Thursday after reportedly hitting a woman in the head multiple times with a hammer before robbing her at a New York City substation (NYPD).

Last week, police claimed a 6-foot tall male wearing a dark jacket, blue trousers, and wielding a cane assaulted the 57-year-old woman at the Queens Plaza subway station around 11 p.m. Thursday. In what they described as a vicious and unprovoked attack, she was left bleeding from the brain and with a broken skull.

After doing an extensive video canvassing across the city, officers detained William Blount, 57, according to an NYPD official.

Blount was apprehended at his listed address, which was characterized by police as a "shelter." Blount is facing accusations of attempted murder, robbery, and assault, according to an NYPD official.

Blount has yet to be arraigned, according to Kim Livingston of the Queens District Attorney's Office, who also stated that a complaint in his case has yet to be written. As a result, according to Livingston, Blount does not yet have legal representation. According to Livingston, Blount is due to appear in court on Monday, at which time his attorney will be named.

At a news conference on Friday afternoon, NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig claimed the suspect kicked and beat the victim "several times" before fleeing on foot with her purse.
Nina Rothschild, a scientist for the New York City Department of Health, was identified by the woman's relatives. She was assaulted 15 minutes after leaving work, according to authorities.

"This was an unprovoked, cruel, and awful crime committed against a woman who was simply trying to return home after a long day at work," Essig said.
Rothschild was brought to Cornell Medical Center with a cracked skull and lacerations to her face, according to Essig, who was bleeding from her brain.

According to her brother, Gerson Rothschild, she has had a portion of her skull reconstructed with wire mesh. She also has a drop foot, which is characterized by an inability to elevate one's foot. He stated it's unclear whether the problem was nerve injury or a mental block.

On Saturday, Gerson Rothschild told CNN, "Of course, I can't wish this on anyone else; it shouldn't happen to anyone." "I'd rather it wasn't my sister, but we have to make do with what we've got."
In the year 2000, the siblings lost their parents within 29 days of each other.

Gerson Rothschild explained, "It's just Nina and me, really it's just the two of us." "Little brother will do everything in his power to keep big sister safe."

54% increase in transit system arrests compared to the same time last year, NYPD says

Chief of the NYPD Transit Bureau Jason Wilcox said additional patrols will be added in all boroughs but noted the Queens Plaza station where the incident took place is "a priority station" given it is heavily trafficked.

"We are working very hard to increase uniform presence throughout the system, on the trains, on the platforms, along the mezzanines, in the stairs, so it is an absolute priority," Wilcox said.

The presence of more officers will make people feel safer, Wilcox added.

"My directive and our mission are to be highly visible, on the trains, on the platforms moving around, taking train runs from other stations, so that's what we're very dedicated to," he said.

There have been more than 1,000 arrests in the transit system so far this year, Wilcox said, a 54% increase compared to data from the same time last year.

The attack happened one week after a new transit safety plan announced

The attack happened a week after officials unveiled a new transit safety plan to combat crime and address homelessness in the city's transit system as part of a new public safety initiative.

Mayor Eric Adams said Friday the objective is to go after people who violate basic rules, who don't allow "the system to function in a clean, safe manner."

Adams said safety crews are operating overnight and will target all crimes from fare evasion to smoking on the subway.

Gerson Rothschild said he is "all for" the safety plan.

"The point is, I believe it is too early to observe results, and we should give him a little more time... My sister, hopefully, will be the last to be attacked."
"It's a huge city, you're going to have something happen," Gerson Rothschild said. "Whether it's under [Rudy] Giuliani, [Bill] de Blasio, or [Eric] Adams, horrible things happen." "All I want is for the culprit to be apprehended and punished."
Mayor Adams tweeted that the attack on Rothschild was "especially horrible," and that he was "very unhappy" about it.
"Violence against any New Yorker is reprehensible," the mayor wrote, "but an attack on a city worker who has dedicated her career to keeping people safe is especially horrible."