Man arrested, charged after 7 NYC Asian women attacked

Asian women attacked in Manhattan

The NYPD has a person in custody in connection with the attacks on seven women of Asian descent in a two-hour span in Manhattan.

NEW YORK - The NYPD has arrested and charged a suspect who allegedly punched or elbowed seven Asian women in one day in Manhattan from Midtown East to the Lower East Side.

Police say Steven Zajonc, 28, has been charged with seven counts of assault and attempted assault as a hate crime, along with seven counts of aggravated harassment and harassment.

The hate crime spree occurred on Feb. 27 in Midtown East, Union Square, and the Lower East Side.

Police released video footage of the suspect on Wednesday. He was taken into custody hours later.

In the first assault at about 6:30 p.m., the man approached a 57-year-old Asian woman in the area of Madison Avenue and East 30th Street and struck her in the face with a closed fist, said police. The attack was unprovoked.

Get breaking news alerts in the free FOX5NY News app! | Sign up for FOX 5 email newsletters

Lawmaker talks about anti-Asian hate crimes

Assembly Member Ron Kim speaks about the recent spate of attacks on people of Asian descent in New York.

The woman suffered swelling to her face and a cut to her lip. She was treated at Mount Sinai Hospital and released. The suspect fled northbound on Madison Avenue towards East 31st Street.

In the second incident, the suspect approached a 25-year-old Asian woman and struck her in the face and the back of her arm with a closed fist. The assault occurred at about 6:40 p.m. in the area of 5th Avenue and East 30th Street. She did not require medical attention. The suspect fled on Madison Avenue towards East 30th Street.

In the third assault, at about 6:45 p.m., the suspect punched a 21-year-old Asian woman in the face in the area of Park Avenue South and East 23rd Street. The victim suffered a cut and swelling to her mouth. She was treated at Bellevue Hospital. The suspect fled eastbound on East 23rd Street.

In the fourth assault, at about 6:50 p.m., the suspect punched a 25-year-old Asian woman in the face in the area of Irving Place and East 17th Street. The victim suffered a cut and swelling to her upper lip. She did not require medical attention. The suspect fled in an unknown direction.

Hate crime spree suspect

The NYPD is looking for the suspect who punched or elbowed seven Asian women in the face in one day in Manhattan.

In the fifth assault, at about 7:05 p.m., the man elbowed a 19-year-old woman in the face in the area of Union Square East and East 17th Street. The victim suffered a cut to her lip. She did not require medical attention.

In the sixth assault, at about 7:25 p.m., the suspect elbowed a 25-year-old Asian woman in the mouth in the area of East Houston Street and Mott Street. The victim suffered swelling and bleeding to the lower lip. EMS treated a woman at the scene. The suspect fled northbound on Mott Street.

In the seventh assault, at about 8:37 p.m., in the area of Broadway and East 8th Street, the suspect shoved a 20-year-old Asian woman to the ground. She suffered minor injuries to her hands. The suspect fled westbound on East 8th Street.