Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of BLAKE NORTON, 43, for attacking a 60-year-old woman with a wooden cane and belt dozens of times inside the West 116th Street and Lenox Avenue subway station. NORTON was charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with one count each of Attempted Assault in the First Degree, Assault in the Second Degree and Assault in the Third Degree on October 2, 2023. [1] 

“Blake Norton needlessly resorted to violence when he allegedly assaulted a subway rider dozens of times,” said District Attorney Bragg. “The alleged acts reflect the serious and excessive nature of the assault, as the victim laid helplessly on the ground. Our prosecutors are working diligently to hold accountable anyone who threatens the safety of subway riders.”  

According to court documents and statements made on the record in court, on September 1, 2023, at approximately 3:19 a.m., NORTON and the woman were making their way up the stairs to exit the subway station. As the woman was going up the stairs with her walker and personal belongings, the walker fell down the stairs. NORTON and the woman got into a verbal dispute over the walker and as the argument escalated NORTON took off his belt, which had a metal buckle, and used it to strike the woman repeatedly. The woman used a cane to strike NORTON back.    

NORTON yanked the cane out of her hand, causing her to fall to the ground. He then began striking her with the cane over her head and body more than 50 times. When the cane eventually broke, NORTON returned to using the belt to strike the woman. He also punched and kicked her multiple times. The attack on the woman lasted for over two minutes, while she laid on the ground. The woman suffered significant bruising, swelling and pain, resulting in a two weeklong hospital stay.

NORTON was arrested a few days later.  

Assistant D.A.s Nicole Borczyk and Meral Kerim are handling the prosecution of the case, under the supervision of Assistant D.A. David Hammer (Chief of Trial Bureau 70), and Executive D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Trial Preparation Assistant Robert Copit is providing valuable assistance.  

D.A. Bragg thanked the NYPD, especially Detective Thomas Gerding (Manhattan Robbery Squad), 28th Precinct, 30th Precinct, and Transit Division District 3.  

Defendant Information: 

BLAKE NORTON

Bronx, NY 

Charged: 

• Attempted Assault in the First Degree, a class C felony, one count
• Assault in the Second Degree, a class D felony, one count
• Assault in the Third 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.