Brute Attacks Teen with Hammer on Bronx Train
A shocking incident occurred on a Bronx train when a man with a history of arrests attacked a teenager with a hammer because the victim refused to give up his seat for a woman, according to police reports. The suspect, identified as Tommy Sprauve, 26, assaulted the 19-year-old victim on a northbound D train approaching the 167th Street station around 5 p.m.
The victim recounted that Sprauve demanded his seat for a woman, but the teen ignored the request. Without warning, Sprauve struck the victim in the face with a hammer, causing a cut and swelling on his left eye. The victim then alerted officers on the train, who noticed him bleeding from the forehead as he exited the train.
The victim identified Sprauve, who was carrying the hammer, leading to his immediate arrest. Sprauve, a Bronx resident, was charged with assault with intent to cause serious physical injury and awaited arraignment.
Meanwhile, the victim received medical treatment at BronxCare Health System for his severe cut but was reported to be in stable condition by the police.
Sprauve has a criminal record with 20 prior arrests, including a recent burglary at a Bronx homeless shelter less than two weeks before the subway incident. In that case, he was caught breaking into a storage room in the building and was apprehended by a security guard.
Despite his prior offenses, Sprauve was released without bail during his arraignment in Bronx Criminal Court. He had previously been arrested for burglary and arson in separate incidents.
The assault on the teenager comes at a time when the NYPD has announced the deployment of 700 additional officers to patrol the subway system overnight. This move follows a series of violent incidents, including stabbings and assaults, that have occurred in the subway over the past week.
