Police are searching for a man who approached and punched two women near West 60th Street on Tuesday night
Two Women Attacked, Suspect at Large
A man randomly punched two women in quick succession on the Upper West Side of Manhattan on Tuesday evening, March 3, 2026, according to New York City police. Neither woman was seriously injured, but the attack has added to concerns about public safety in the neighborhood and prompted NYPD to release surveillance images of the suspect.
What Police Say Happened
At approximately 8:20 p.m., near the intersection of West 60th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, a man approached a 31-year-old woman and punched her in the face with a closed fist, knocking her to the ground. Less than a minute later, he approached a 27-year-old woman nearby and punched her in the face, cutting her nose. The 31-year-old sustained minor injuries and was not hospitalized. The 27-year-old was treated by medical personnel at the scene. The man then fled eastbound on West 60th Street toward Amsterdam Avenue. NYPD released a photograph of the suspect on Wednesday night and provided no motive for the attacks.
The Community Response
The attacks drew significant local attention on the West Side Rag, a neighborhood news outlet that covers Upper West Side issues. Commenters debated the adequacy of police response, the role of the district attorney’s office in prosecution, and broader questions about the relationship between public housing proximity and crime rates. Some residents expressed frustration with what they described as inadequate consequences for misdemeanor assaults. Others were concerned about a pattern of random attacks in the neighborhood.
Context: Street Safety and Mental Health
Random unprovoked attacks by strangers on public sidewalks are comparatively rare in the statistical record, but they receive significant attention because of the fear they generate and the sense of violation they create in public spaces. The Vera Institute of Justice has documented that many people who commit violent acts in public spaces in New York City are experiencing untreated mental illness or acute mental health crises. NAMI New York State has called for expanded community-based mental health services as an alternative to criminalization for people who pose a danger to themselves or others due to psychiatric conditions. Anyone with information about the March 3 attack is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).
