Police in Brooklyn are searching for two women accused of “viciously” beating an MTA worker, who was recovering from brain surgery, after allegedly jumping a turnstile at an East New York subway station over the weekend.
The assault happened around 1:15 p.m. Saturday on the mezzanine level of the New Lots Avenue subway station on the 3 line in East New York, police said.
Marshalee Reid, 51, was helping an elderly rider exit through the emergency gate when one woman jumped the turnstile. A second woman then asked to pass through the open gate, but Reid told her she could not ride without payment, according to authorities.
That’s when the woman who jumped the turnstile allegedly pulled Reid to the ground and began punching her. The second woman then joined in, striking Reid repeatedly before both fled the station on foot without boarding a train. One of the women also struck her with a set of keys, causing facial lacerations.
Reid, who was on restricted duty following brain surgery last year, was taken to Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center and is now recovering at home.
“It’s a lot for me right now, because the girl was punching me in my face,” Reid told reporters on Tuesday. “The pain is terrible. I have a lot of headaches now.”
Despite her injuries, Reid said she spoke publicly in hopes of bringing her attackers to justice.
“There are consequences for their crime,” she said. “I want people to know that they have to stop assaulting city workers.”
Reid said she is unsure when, or if, she can return to work, pending an MRI and medical clearance.
“I’m most concerned about my health right now,” she said, adding that she believes the attackers should face a minimum of seven years in prison if convicted.
‘When is this going to end?’
Transport Workers Union Local 100 Station VP Robert Kelley said union members are “hoping and praying” there are no long term effects for Reid as a result of the attack.
“The thought of her working right now is not on our radar, we’re only concerned about getting her back, as close as she can get, to being able to live a normal life,” he said.
TWU Local 100 President John Chiarello denounced the assault during a separate news conference Tuesday, calling out MTA leadership and city officials for failing to protect union workers.
“Once again, an egregious assault on one of our members, a station agent who was viciously beaten by two perpetrators who are still on the loose,” Chiarello said. “Every day, more than one person from our union is assaulted. When is this going to end?”
Chiarello criticized MTA CEO Janno Lieber for not reaching out to Reid after the attack and urged both Lieber and Mayor Eric Adams to boost police presence at transit “hot spots” where workers face frequent attacks.
He added that Gov. Kathy Hochul’s initiative to have a cop on every train overnight is a “step in the right direction,” but now “the mayor has to double down and send more police, that’s the only way to stop it.”
On Tuesday, police released surveillance images of the suspects who fled the station on foot and asked the public for help identifying them
The first woman is described as being 25 to 30 years old, with a light complexion and short black hair. She was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, multicolored shorts, and white shoes. The second is also believed to be 25 to 30 years old, with a light complexion and short orange hair. She was last seen in a pink shirt, blue jeans, and black sandals.
Anyone with information regarding the June 28 attack can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA). You can also submit tips online at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, or on X (formerly Twitter) @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
Transit crime in Brooklyn’s 75th Precinct, where the assault occurred, is up 71% year-to-date, with 14 reported incidents in the first six months of the year. Citywide transit-related crimes have declined slightly, down 2.9% compared to the same period in 2024, logging 1,009 cases through June 22.
The NYPD’s Manhattan South patrol has recorded the highest number of transit-related crimes in 2025 so far, with 342 incidents. The 14th Precinct covering Midtown South accounts for the largest share within that region, reporting 104 of those cases.
