NYC transit worker speaks out after subway assault: 'He was in a rage'

NEW YORK (PIX11) -- Safety in the transit system is always on the minds of riders, workers and officials. 

Some recent assaults are refocusing attention on the issue. 

Station agent Noreen Mallory spoke out on Tuesday about an attack last week that left her with a broken eye socket. 

“He was in a rage. He followed me down the platform and punched me. The issue of safety has to be a priority,” she said. 

Union leaders and transit workers joined her at Transport Union Workers Local 100 headquarters on Tuesday. 

“We are asking, we are demanding safety,” said Robert Kelley who represents subway workers. 

TWU Local 100 Union President Richard Davis is calling for another surge of officers. 

“This is a new form of terrorism against public servants,” he said. 

The suspect, 25-year-old Abdellahi Mohammed, was taken to jail after the attack and charged with two counts of assault. He was being held on bail. 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams says there aren't as many officers currently in the transit system as there were during the original subway safety plan. 

They're looking at stepping up and changing patrols as well as asking the state for more money to cover overtime. Many officers now work four 11-hour shifts. 

At an announcement about creating safer conditions within stations related to lighting, the vice president of subways for MTA said the agency and state remain focused on safety. 

Demetrius Crichlow pointed to state investment in cameras and law enforcement.

"It's abhorrent a station agent would be brutally attacked, especially since their job is to help and support customers. I'm thankful in this instance customers were there to support her and NYPD responded and made an arrest. Additionally, with cameras in each of our stations, if you commit violence in the transit system, your crime will be captured on camera and you will be caught," he said in an earlier statement. 

According to MTA data, assaults on transit workers are up for January 2024 as compared to January 2023. There were 19 cases this month involving transit workers with 13 reported last January. 

Harassment of workers is also tracked and those cases are down. 

Police have reported increased trends in robberies and felony assaults against riders within the transit system. 

About 3.8 million riders are using the system per day. The number of cases involving riders averages about six per day.