Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of WOKI MASSAQUOI, 35, for allegedly attacking a 38-year-old woman onboard a subway while making antisemitic remarks in April 2025. MASSAQUOI is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with two counts of Assault in the Third Degree as a Hate Crime and one count of Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree. [1]

“As alleged, Woki Massaquoi unleashed hate-driven violence on a woman in an unprovoked attack in our transit system,” said District Attorney Bragg. “This harmful conduct is unacceptable and no one should be targeted because of their religion. Our specially trained prosecutors are working diligently each day to bring cases forward, and we urge anyone who has been a victim or witness to a hate crime or bias incident to please call 911 or report it to our Office at 212-335-3100.”  

According to court documents and statements made on the record in court, on April 29, 2025, the victim, who was on her morning commute, and MASSAQUOI both boarded a northbound 4 train at the Grand Central – 42nd Street station.    

As alleged, at approximately 7:50 a.m., as the train traveled between the 59thStreet and Lexington Avenue and 86th Street and Lexington Avenue stations, MASSAQUOI, unprovoked, approached the victim from behind and slapped the victim’s coffee from her hand. As she did so, MASSAQUOI made antisemitic remarks, including, stating in substance, “white Jew b—.” MASSAQUOI then punched the victim on the left side of her face and pinned her to the ground of the train car, causing the victim bruising, swelling and pain to the face.   

Once the train pulled into the 86th Street and Lexington Avenue station, the victim got off the subway and flagged down the conductor, as an eyewitness called 911. Within minutes, officers arrived on the scene and arrested MASSAQUOI. The victim was transported to the hospital.  

Assistant D.A. John Ludtke (Trial Bureau 60) is handling the prosecution of this case, under the supervision of Constantine Coritsidis (Deputy Chief of the Hate Crimes Unit), Hannah Yu (Chief of the Hate Crimes Unit), and Executive D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Former Hate Crimes Investigative Analyst Gwen Nighswander is provided valuable assistance. 

D.A. Bragg thanked the NYPD, particularly the officers of Transit District 4.       

 

Defendant Information:

WOKI MASSAQUOI

Bronx, NY

Charged:

• Assault in the Third Degree as a Hate Crime, a class E felony, two counts
• Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree, a class A misdemeanor, one count

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[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.