McGookin shared more details in a subsequent video, explaining that she was looking down at her phone when she was punched in the head and elbowed by a man who was walking his dog. Her sudden impact caused her to fall to the ground, hitting her head on the pavement.
It added that McGookin sought medical attention and reported the attack to police on the same day.
According to the New York City Police Department, a 40-year-old man named Skiboky Stra was arrested and charged on March 27 in connection with the incident, and the investigation continues.
unprovoked attack
Since McGookin's video went viral, similar stories have surfaced, revealing an alarming spate of random and unprovoked assaults on women in the city.
Commenting on McGookin's post, one viewer shared: “This happened to me a few weeks ago while waiting for the subway!” Literally without any prompting, it hit me over the head. Why do people do this? ”
Others tagged other women who shared accounts of similar assaults, like Olivia Brand, who described being attacked by an unknown assailant in a March 17 TikTok video.
“I literally got hit by a guy on the sidewalk. He said, 'I'm sorry,' and punched me in the head,” she said. “What the hell is going on?”
Another TikToker, Mikayla Toninato, also responded to McGookin's video, saying she was randomly punched while walking home from class.
The 27-year-old design student, who suffered a bruise to his eye, said: “I was looking at my phone and texting when this guy came out of nowhere and punched me in the face. I'm doing it.”
