Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Woman Arrested For Racist D Train Attack Has A History Of Alleged Subway Assaults
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Dec 14, 2018
Modified Dec 14, 2018
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Dec 14, 2018
Modified Dec 14, 2018
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The Brooklyn woman who was arrested on Tuesday morning for hitting, spitting, and using racial slurs against her fellow passengers on a D train to Manhattan was arrested in June for assaulting passengers in a Sunset Park train station, and allegedly punched another subway rider on Monday of this week.
According to an NYPD spokesperson, 40-year-old Anna Lushchinskaya was arrested on June 28th in the 36th Street D/N/R subway station in Sunset Park after allegedly spraying a substance into two people's faces: "As the D train arrives in the station [Lushchinskaya] walks by the victim and discharged the substance in the victims' faces, causing burning and irritation." Lushchinskaya was charged with two counts of misdemeanor assault.
Another alleged victim, who asked not to be named out of fear of being attacked again, said she had exited the R train at the 4th Avenue/9th Street station this past Monday morning, and was transferring to the F when she walked by a woman she now says was 40-year-old Anna Lushchinskaya.
"As I was passing her she stuck her arm out and like, side punched me with her keys in her knuckles," the passenger said. "I stumbled, caught myself, kept walking and turned around because she was screaming at me to leave her alone. She called me a 'psycho bitch,' and I still had my headphones on so I couldn’t completely catch what she said because I was so taken off guard."
The rider admits that she "got in her face a little," and took the photo above, when "a man and woman kind of grabbed me and they were like, leave her she’s not worth it."
When she got out of the train station at Carroll Street, the passenger said she told transit police "through tears" what had happened. "They told me because I didn’t know who she was they couldn’t do anything and if I were to file a complaint it was be harassment not assault," she said, adding that she emailed the transit police on Wednesday night but has not yet received a response. [Update: The passenger tells us that an NYPD officer called her on Friday morning, around the time this story was published.]
After Wednesday's incident, in which Lushchinskaya is seen on video hitting a woman with her umbrella and keys, and calling her a "fucking c*ink," she was was charged with menacing, criminal possession of a weapon, attempted assault, and harassment, all misdemeanors, according to a criminal complaint from the Brooklyn DA's office.
Susan Morris, Lushchinskaya's Legal Aid attorney, declined to comment.
Lushchinskaya's next court date is set for January 22.
Tagged
Anna Lushchinskaya
beware
subway
original
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYPD: 2 suspects in off-duty officer stabbing tried to rob victim
It’s unclear if the attackers knew the victim was NYPD.
By
Jill Webb
Published Oct 3, 2026 at 2:01 p.m. ET
Astoria-born Chip City announces sudden closure days after former CEO sues
The company blamed ‘macro-economic headwinds.’ The co-founder is suing over compensation.
By
Catalina Gonella
News
Astoria-born Chip City announces sudden closure days after former CEO sues
The company blamed ‘macro-economic headwinds.’ The co-founder is suing over compensation.
By
Catalina Gonella
US judge tosses Trump lawsuit targeting pro-Palestinian protesters in NJ
By
Willow Higgins
A big, bright Saturn will be the highlight of NYC's fall stargazing season
By
Rosemary Misdary
NYC tow companies busted for ripping off drivers must give $67K in refunds, city says
By
Liam Quigley
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .