An 18-year-old suspect was apprehended on Tuesday for a vicious attack on a teenage girl at a Bronx train station last month. Antonio Romero allegedly slashed the 17-year-old victim in the face at the 149 Street-Grand Concourse station around 4:30 p.m. on December 17th. According to authorities, Romero confessed to the attack, stating that he targeted the girl because she had issues with his brother on Instagram.
The victim was rushed to Harlem Hospital where she received multiple stitches on her left cheekbone down to her mouth. Surveillance footage captured the suspect walking through an emergency exit gate after the incident. When shown the image by police, Romero admitted to being the person in the photo.
Romero was charged with assault, attempted assault, criminal possession of a weapon, and harassment. This was his first arrest, and a Bronx judge set his bail at $20,000 cash and $65,000 bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for January 24th.
This attack adds to the recent wave of violence in the New York City transit system. Incidents such as a homeless woman being set on fire by a migrant on a Coney Island F train and a straphanger being pushed onto the tracks in Chelsea have raised concerns about safety. In response, Governor Kathy Hochul has deployed hundreds of police officers to patrol trains and platforms overnight to ensure the safety of commuters.
