Police have apprehended a man captured on video repeatedly kicking an elderly woman on a New York subway.
The suspect, identified as 36-year-old Yonkers resident Marc Gomez, was arrested Saturday, reports The New York Times.
Video from the March 10 assault showed Gomez kicking the homeless 78-year-old woman in the abdomen several times and in the face. Onlookers took out their cellphones to record the incident.
“WorldStar that, my n***a,” the assailant said before exiting the train.
According to the New York Daily News, one of the bystanders reportedly called authorities.
Footage of the violent incident circulated on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, igniting a citywide search for the suspect. Gomez was finally captured after a slew of tips flooded the police tip line. The Daily News reports an unidentified person connected to Gomez told police where he was located.
He’s crazy that’s somebody grandmother. Rt and find this asshole pic.twitter.com/p7rkNtMrUo
— Rello. (@BKLYNRELL1) March 21, 2019
Gomez was found in Manhattan and apprehended around 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.
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Police launched an investigation into the incident, but there has yet to be any indication what motivated the attack.
“She was homeless and lying across the seat and wanted all other passengers to move,” Gomez’s court-appointed lawyer claimed. During Sunday's arraignment, the 36-year-old said she threatened him with a sharp object. But neither of these claims were confirmed by authorities.
The victim, who was a retired kindergarten teacher, received medical attention when she got off at her stop. An EMS crew was waiting for her, police said. She was reportedly treated for cuts and bruises in the face.
“The subject wanted for the brutal subway attack of an elderly woman IS IN CUSTODY,” New York Police Department Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea wrote in a statement via Twitter. “The victim was treated & released from the hospital & is getting the care, advocacy & support needed. Thank you to the worldwide community for the tremendous assistance.”
According to the New York Post, Gomez has been charged with second-degree assault. He is held in lieu of a $30,000 bond due to other charges including a misdemeanor conviction and an open gun possession.
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