NYC subway hammer attack suspect charged with hate crime, has 47 prior arrests

The individual accused of hitting an Asian man with a hammer in the New York City subway station was charged with three hate crimes on Wednesday, reports the New York Post.

Christian Jeffers, 48, who identifies as a woman, was charged with assault, aggravated harassment and menacing – all as hate crimes over the incident at a Manhattan metro station on Mar. 8.

🚨WANTED for ASSAULT: Last night, at 9:05 pm, inside the 14 Street subway station, this individual struck a 29-year-old male in the head with a hammer. He is in stable condition. If you have any information on this individual, contact @nypdtips at 800-577-TIPS pic.twitter.com/OgmEbGoPZ5

— NYPD Hate Crimes (@NYPDHateCrimes) March 9, 2022

The 29-year-old Asian victim told the New York Post that he was returning home from dinner with a friend when he bumped into Jeffers.

“He ended up bumping into me and then after that, he turned around trying to get into my face pretty aggressively, and in that kind of process he ended up stepping on me,” the victim said. “He stepped on my foot and then after that, he took out the hammer and then I was hit on the head.

Video of the incident shows Jeffers yelling “Why did you hit me? Why did you fucking hit me?” as she fishes around in a large tote bag, pulling out a hammer and swinging once before fleeing.

… and video of the suspect his friend took. 2/2 https://t.co/X8ruyomzQY pic.twitter.com/iZ1TKfm7Is

— CeFaan Kim (@CeFaanKim) March 9, 2022

The victim was treated for cut to the head at a nearby hospital.

The alleged attacker was arrested the next day after trying to jump a turnstile in another station. Police recovered a hammer from the bag, reports the Post.

Jeffers has a lengthy arrest record and was referred to by police sources as a known “transit offender.” The hammer attack bust is her 48^th arrest since 2007, most of which were related to fare evasion. She was recently released from prison in June after serving nearly six years on a conviction for second degree robbery.

In his Post interview, the victim lamented rising crime in the city.

“We’re trying to live our lives as well as we can, you know, and it’s just unfortunate that we have to face all these adversities, along with just all the struggles in life,” the victim said. “It’s just unnecessary conflict and it sucks.”

“It’s unfortunate, you know, the city is the way it is,” he added. “Obviously, something has to happen, something has to change.”