Woman Faces Man Who Attacked Her with Hammer at N.Y.C. Subway Station as He's Sentenced: 'What Were You Thinking?'

A man who attacked a 57-year-old woman with a hammer at a busy New York City subway station has learned his fate.

William Blount, 61, was sentenced Thursday to 25 years to life in prison for the unprovoked attack on Nina Rothschild. 

On the night of Feb. 24, 2022, Rothschild was walking down the stairs to the Queens Plaza subway station when Blount, who was walking with a black cane, approached her from behind and kicked her down the stairs, according to a statement from the Queens District Attorney. 

Blount then struck Rothschild in the head 13 times with a hammer and grabbed her tote bag before fleeing the scene, according to the prosecutor’s office. 

Rothschild was taken to a local hospital and treated for multiple skull fractures, per the DA’s office, and had to go through surgery to remove the damaged parts of her skull and replace them with titanium mesh. She also suffered a broken finger and other injuries.

Investigators were able to track down Blount using surveillance video which showed him carrying Rothschild’s tote bag as he walked from the subway station to a relative’s house, per the prosecutor’s statement. 

Authorities also found Blount’s DNA on the hammer used to strike Rothschild and on his black cane. 

A judge told Rothschild that it was a miracle she survived, ABC7 reported. Rothschild delivered a victim impact statement at the sentencing where she addressed Blount. 

“My question, what were you thinking on the night of February 24, 2022? If confronted with someone with a hammer, most people would give up their bags. Why on earth did you come up behind me, fracture my skull multiple times with a hammer, then grab my bag?” she said, per the outlet.

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Blount was convicted of two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of first-degree robbery and fourth-degree possession of a weapon, per the prosecutor’s statement. 

“I thank the survivor for testifying during this trial and bravely facing her attacker in court. Our transit system must be safe for everyone and this conviction sends a strong message that those who cause mayhem on our subways will be brought to justice,” Katz said.