NEW YORK, NY – A Newark man faces assault charges after allegedly shoving a woman who tried to break up a fight into a moving subway train in Manhattan, leaving her with critical injuries, authorities said Monday.
Aaron Nett, 33, was arrested at the scene and charged with assault following the violent attack early Sunday morning at the 135th Street subway station in Harlem. The incident occurred around 12:40 a.m. on the platform of the southbound Nos. 2 and 3 trains, according to the New York Police Department.
Police said Nett and another man were engaged in an argument when a 56-year-old woman intervened to break up the fight. Nett then allegedly flung the good Samaritan onto a moving southbound No. 2 train. The woman bounced off the train and landed back on the platform.
The victim sustained devastating injuries in the attack, according to the criminal complaint. She suffered a hematoma with a laceration to the skull, multiple rib fractures, a hole and bleeding in the lungs, and spinal fractures. She was immediately transported to a hospital for treatment.
Prosecutors said surveillance video captured Nett shoving the woman into the train. The footage provided critical evidence leading to the assault charges. It remains unclear what the two men were fighting about before the victim’s intervention.
Nett was arraigned Monday and pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to court records. A judge set bail at $5,000 cash, $30,000 insurance company bond, or $15,000 partially secured surety bond.
The Newark resident is scheduled to return to court Friday for his next hearing. His attorney could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
The attack highlights ongoing safety concerns in New York City’s subway system, where violent incidents continue to raise alarms among riders and transit officials. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has increased security measures at stations across the city in recent months.
Authorities have not released the condition of the victim or provided updates on her recovery. Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the altercation between Nett and the other man.
The identity of the other man involved in the initial argument has not been released, and it’s unclear if he faces any charges related to the incident.
