Christian Jeffers, 48, who identifies as a woman, has been held on $300,000 bail after allegedly attacking an Asian man with a hammer at a Manhattan subway station. The incident occurred on Tuesday at the 14th Street station and was captured on video.
Jeffers faces charges of assault, aggravated harassment, and menacing, all as hate crimes, along with criminal possession of a weapon. The judge ordered the high bail at her arraignment on Friday, with prosecutors stating the attack happened with 'little to no provocation'.
The video shows Jeffers, wearing a black wig and purple lipstick, smashing the 29-year-old victim in the head with a hammer after a brief bump and exchange of words. The victim, who wished to remain anonymous, told NBC New York he tried to avoid a collision but Jeffers allegedly stepped on his foot before attacking.
Police revealed Jeffers has a criminal record dating back to 2007, with 47 prior arrests including prostitution, grand larceny, and robbery. She was released from prison in June 2021 after serving six years for second-degree robbery, and was arrested for petit larceny just a week after release.
The victim was taken to Bellevue Hospital with a head wound but remained conscious. The attack has heightened concerns about anti-Asian violence in New York City.
