NYC subway slash victim jolted awake by searing face pain ‘angry’ to be stat in soaring crime

New York Post - Mar 15th, 2025

Earlton Massenburg Jr., a Brooklyn resident and Amazon deliveryman, became a victim of a seemingly random and brutal subway attack, where he was slashed across the face by an unknown assailant. The incident occurred during his commute on a 4 train at the Crown Heights-Utica Avenue station. Despite the presence of increased surveillance and police presence, the attacker managed to escape, leaving Massenburg with a severe facial wound requiring numerous stitches. This attack is part of a troubling trend of violent incidents on New York City's transit system, which has seen a rise in both felony and misdemeanor assaults compared to previous years.

The subway system's safety has been under scrutiny, with Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch initiating increased patrols and quality-of-life enforcement to address not just violent crimes but also minor infractions. While overall crime in the subways has reportedly decreased by 27% this year, high-profile incidents such as Massenburg's slashing and other recent violent attacks highlight ongoing safety challenges. The city's efforts to improve transit safety continue as Massenburg, despite his ordeal, remains resilient, returning to work and maintaining his long commute, determined not to let fear overwhelm his daily life.

Nypd Earlton Massenburg Jr. Brooklyn Subway Attack New York City Transit Safety Subway Crime Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.2

Moderately Fair

Read with skepticism

The article provides a compelling narrative of a violent subway attack, effectively capturing the victim's experience and raising awareness about public safety concerns. Its strengths lie in its timeliness and public interest, as it addresses a pressing issue for many New Yorkers. However, the story would benefit from greater balance and source quality, as it predominantly relies on the victim's account without sufficient corroboration from official or secondary sources. Enhancing transparency and including diverse perspectives would improve the article's credibility and impact. Overall, the piece serves as a strong starting point for discussions on subway safety but requires more comprehensive reporting to fully inform and engage its audience.

Accuracy

The article presents a detailed account of an attack on Earlton Massenburg Jr. on a Brooklyn train, which aligns with reported incidents in news outlets. The description of the attack, including the location and nature of the injury, appears consistent with available data. However, the story lacks specific verification for some details, such as the exact date of the attack and the suspect's description, which are crucial for accuracy. While the crime statistics are cited, they should be cross-referenced with official NYPD data to ensure precision. The overall narrative is truthful, but it would benefit from additional corroboration of certain facts to enhance its reliability.

Balance

The article primarily focuses on the victim's perspective, offering a detailed recount of the incident from Massenburg's point of view. It briefly mentions broader crime trends and police responses, which provides some context. However, the story lacks input from law enforcement or city officials, which could offer a more balanced view of the situation. Including perspectives from the police or community leaders might have provided a fuller picture of the measures being taken to address subway safety. The absence of these viewpoints suggests a slight imbalance in the narrative.

Clarity

The article is well-structured, with a clear narrative that guides the reader through the sequence of events. The language is straightforward and descriptive, effectively conveying the severity of the attack and the victim's emotional response. The piece maintains a neutral tone, focusing on factual recounting rather than sensationalism. However, the inclusion of more specific dates and verification of statistics would improve clarity by providing a more complete context for the reader.

Source quality

The article relies heavily on the victim's account, which is a primary source for the incident. However, it does not cite any secondary sources or official statements from the police or other authorities to corroborate the details of the attack or the statistical data provided. This reliance on a singular perspective limits the depth and breadth of the information presented. The inclusion of more authoritative sources, such as police reports or expert commentary, would improve the credibility and reliability of the reporting.

Transparency

While the article provides a clear narrative of the incident, it lacks transparency regarding its sources, particularly for the crime statistics and police response details. There is no disclosure of how these figures were obtained or whether they were verified with official data. Furthermore, the article does not explain the methodology behind the statistics or the context in which they were gathered. Greater transparency in sourcing and data collection would enhance the article's credibility and allow readers to better understand the basis of the claims made.