Subway Predator Stopped Cold by Pack of Brave Strangers"

Viral TikTok of the dramatic rescue nears 7 million views

A group of quick-thinking New York City subway riders sprang into action Sunday morning, delivering swift street justice to a man who suddenly grabbed a screaming woman on a Brooklyn platform—an incident now seen nearly 7 million times on TikTok.

The terrifying scene unfolded around 9 a.m. at the Norwood Avenue station when 42-year-old Fredrick Marshall, dressed in all white with a cap and sunglasses, allegedly bear-hugged a 20-year-old woman from behind and began forcing her forward. The young woman’s chilling screams—"Stop, stop, help!"—alerted nearby commuters, who rushed in to intervene.

The bystanders surrounded Marshall and demanded he release her. She eventually managed to break free, only for the suspect to lunge at her a second time moments later. That’s when a fast-acting stranger tripped him, sending him crashing face-first onto the pavement.

Several riders then tackled Marshall to the ground, delivering a series of kicks and strikes. One bystander appeared to use a stick to fend him off while others worked to restrain him. The shaken woman can be seen in the video fleeing the scene barefoot, one sneaker lost during the chaotic struggle.

Police confirmed that Marshall was armed with a knife and a blackjack at the time of the attack. The victim, who did not know her attacker, suffered minor injuries including shoulder pain and bruises to her stomach and arms. EMS treated her on site.

Marshall now faces multiple charges, including two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree assault, and second-degree harassment.

The viral footage has sparked an outpouring of support and praise for the brave subway riders.

“Boy moms, make sure you are raising men like this who protect our daughters from the depraved,” one woman commented. “My heart hurts hearing her call for her mom at the end—thinking that could be any of our daughters.” Her post has garnered nearly 19,000 likes.

The top-rated comment, with more than 170,000 likes, reads simply: “This is how our men are supposed to respond.”