Fact Check: Victims hospitalized after subway pepper-spray attack but expected to be OK
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 to let a stranger use her phone while they were waiting for the train. As the train approached the Court Square-23rd Street station, the man allegedly attacked them with pepper spray and fled the scene. Both victims were taken to a hospital for evaluation and were reported to be "expected to be OK" following the incident (NBC New York, ABC7).
Analysis
The claim that the victims were hospitalized but expected to be OK is supported by multiple news reports. NBC New York and ABC7 both confirm that the woman and her baby were taken to the hospital for evaluation after the pepper-spray attack and that they were expected to recover (NBC New York, ABC7).
The reliability of these sources is high, as they are established news organizations with a history of accurate reporting. Both outlets provided consistent details about the incident, including the circumstances leading up to the attack and the victims' condition post-incident.
However, it is important to note that while the reports state the victims are expected to be OK, the specific nature of their injuries and the exact medical evaluations they underwent were not detailed in the articles. This lack of information could lead to varying interpretations of what "expected to be OK" entails.
Conclusion
The claim that victims were hospitalized after a subway pepper-spray attack but are expected to be OK is True. Multiple credible sources confirm that both the woman and her baby were taken to the hospital for evaluation and that they are expected to recover from the incident.
Sources
- A New Subway Attack, and New Pressure for Protective Gates
- Woman, baby pepper-sprayed on Queens subway - NBC New York
- NYC mother and baby pepper sprayed on subway after man asked to use her ...
- Woman in critical condition after being shoved into moving NYC subway ...
- Woman critically injured after she was shoved into NYC subway train in ...