A 73-year-old great-grandmother from Queens, Aurore Gonzalez, shared her terrifying experience of being brutally beaten by an unhinged woman in a Midtown subway station. The incident, which occurred on May 1, left Gonzalez traumatized and fearful of riding the subway again.
Gonzalez recalled the moment when she was stepping off the train and heard a sudden impact before falling backward and sliding into a pile of belongings covered in feces. The attacker, identified as Marie McWilliams, 36, was arrested for assault on the same day Gonzalez spoke to The Post about her ordeal.
Despite weeks passing since the assault, Gonzalez still struggles with sleeplessness and anxiety. She admitted to feeling constantly on edge, looking over her shoulder whenever she takes the subway, fearing that her attacker might still be lurking nearby.
During the incident, Gonzalez was on the Manhattan-bound E train on her way to work when she overheard McWilliams making racist comments about Puerto Ricans and Black people. Gonzalez confronted the woman, asking if she was directing her remarks at her, which led to McWilliams following her off the train and launching a violent attack.
McWilliams allegedly punched Gonzalez repeatedly, grabbed her hair bun, and scratched her face with a blade, leaving her with two black eyes and injuries that required medical attention. The assault also resulted in kidney issues, scarring near her eye, and migraine headaches for Gonzalez.
Despite the physical and emotional toll of the attack, Gonzalez expressed relief upon hearing about McWilliams’ arrest and vowed to testify against her. She emphasized the importance of respect for older individuals and condemned the violence she experienced.
McWilliams appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court and was granted supervised release by Judge Marva Brown, despite prosecutors’ request for cash bail or bond. The decision left Gonzalez feeling a mix of emotions, but she remains determined to seek justice for the unprovoked assault she endured.
