A disturbing incident unfolded on a Manhattan street when a man wearing a MAGA hat attempted to kiss a woman before launching into a racially charged tirade and setting her boots on fire, while his accomplice recorded the assault and hindered her escape, police reported.
The NYPD is currently on the lookout for the two suspects who targeted a 54-year-old woman on West 26th Street and 7th Avenue in Chelsea last Thursday afternoon shortly before 3 p.m.
The assailant, described as wearing a bright red MAGA hat, navy blue jacket, and green scarf, approached the woman and attempted to kiss her, prompting her to push him away, authorities stated.
Following the rejection, the man began shouting racist remarks at her. Meanwhile, a second man, who was capturing the scene on a smartphone with a tripod, dressed in a blue-striped beanie and black jacket, aided in blocking the woman’s attempts to leave, according to police.
In a shocking escalation, the individual in the MAGA hat used a lighter to ignite the woman’s boots, officials said.
While it remains unclear whether the incident was being live-streamed, the man with the camera appeared to be documenting the attack, raising concerns about the potential broadcasting of this hate crime.
The 54-year-old woman was ultimately able to escape and no injuries were reported.
The NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force is investigating the incident.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website.
