In a shocking incident near a New York City subway station, a man allegedly armed with a box cutter reportedly assaulted an 11-year-old girl, leaving her with a severe head wound.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) apprehended the suspect, identified as 30-year-old Shaquan Cummings, on Friday afternoon.
Cummings has been charged with assault, endangering the welfare of a child, and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree. According to an NYPD spokesperson, the accused attacked the minor shortly after allegedly assaulting a 43-year-old woman.
The incident occurred around 2:18 p.m. on Friday, just outside the 116th Street 6 subway station, as reported by the New York Post. The young girl, who was walking hand-in-hand with her mother, was reportedly slashed in the back of her head and her ear by the man wielding a box cutter.
The mother, Gorzata Sladek, described the incident as "traumatizing" to the New York Post. "Terrible. Its terrible to see a little girl with her head cut, sliced in half and its just terrible," she said.
The NYPD confirmed that the young victim was transported to NYC Health and Hospital/Harlem in stable condition. Sladek revealed that her daughter underwent surgery and required multiple stitches to close the wound. "Shes not doing well emotionally. She doesnt want to go back to school. She doesnt want to go outside anymore," Sladek shared.
Footage from the scene showed the 11-year-old victim being loaded onto a stretcher and into an ambulance, her clothes stained with blood. The NYPD stated that the suspect, Cummings, fled the scene after the assault but was apprehended about a block away, near the location where he allegedly punched the older woman prior to attacking the girl. The 43-year-old woman declined medical treatment, according to the police.
Social media footage showed police officers surrounding the suspect as an irate crowd of witnesses closed in. The suspect was seen taking cover behind the police, while an individual appeared to prod him with a cane. Amid the chaos, an officer was heard shouting at the crowd to "Back up!" while another voice yelled expletives at the suspect. "Don't let him go!" another voice demanded as officers worked to prevent the crowd from taking matters into their own hands.
Cummings, who reportedly has a lengthy criminal record with over 20 prior arrests, was subsequently arrested and charged. The New York Post reported that he was most recently arrested two months ago and given a desk appearance for an assault charge.
Sladek expressed her desire for justice for her daughter to the paper. "You should be able to walk on the street and not worry that somebody will attack you and attack, actually, my daughter not even attacking a dog, but a little kid," she said.
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