Fact Check: "Man attacked woman after phone request was declined on subway platform"
What We Know
On June 20, 2025, a woman and her 11-month-old baby were pepper-sprayed on a subway train in Queens, New York. The incident occurred after the woman declined a request from a man to use her phone while they were waiting for the train on the platform. According to reports, the man attacked the woman as the train approached the Court Square-23rd Street station, using pepper spray before fleeing the scene. Both the woman and her child were taken to a hospital for evaluation but were expected to be okay (NBC New York, ABC7).
Analysis
The claim that a man attacked a woman after she declined his request to use her phone is corroborated by multiple reliable news sources. NBC New York reported that the attack occurred on the M train as it neared the station, confirming the sequence of events leading up to the assault. The report indicates that the man had previously asked the woman for her phone while they were on the platform, and the attack followed her refusal (NBC New York).
Similarly, PIX11 also reported on the incident, emphasizing that the attack was a direct consequence of the woman's refusal to lend her phone (PIX11). ABC7 provided additional context by including a statement from the victim, who described the assailant as having "come out of nowhere" after she declined his request (ABC7).
The consistency across these reports lends credibility to the claim. The sources are reputable news organizations with a history of accurate reporting, which further supports the reliability of the information presented.
Conclusion
The claim that a man attacked a woman after she declined his request to use her phone on a subway platform is True. The incident is well-documented by multiple credible news sources, all of which confirm the sequence of events leading to the attack.
