NEW YORK — Surveillance footage from a NYC subway platform in Manhattan showed a hammer-wielding suspect deliver a blow to another man, causing the victim to fall on the train tracks, according to reports.
NYPD detectives on Monday arrested Jamar Newton, 41, and booked him for assault and reckless endangerment following the attack at the Union Square Station’s ‘N/R’ line about 9:08 p.m. on Saturday night, WABC reported.
Police previously released surveillance video showing Newton – wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the words “I AM BLACK HISTORY” – carrying out the Manhattan attack.
According to police, there had been some kind of dispute between the men prior to the attack.
“Don’t look at me or I’m going to hit you,” the suspect yells to a man who glanced in his direction on the platform, New York Daily News reported. “If you come any closer, I’m going to hit you!”
🚨WANTED for ASSAULT: On 8/21/21 at approx. 9:08 PM, at the Union Sq subway station 'N/R' line @NYPD13PCT Manhattan. A dispute with a 44 Y/O male vic led to the suspect hitting him on the head with a hammer. Any info call or DM NYPDTips at 800-577-TIPS. Reward up to $3,500. pic.twitter.com/RIajhIEkdM
— NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) August 22, 2021
The man appeared to walk away from Newton. However, video showed the suspect, also wearing a white baseball cap, take a hammer out of his blue backpack and swing it over the head of the 44-year-old male victim.
After the violent battering, Newton left the station through the subway turnstile, Fox News reported.
As a consequence of the “hammering,” the victim fell onto the subway tracks. Fortunately, he was pulled to safety by nearby Good Samaritans. The severely injured man was transported to Bellevue Hospital, where he was listed as “stable,” and received seven stitches to close the wound to the back of his head.