NYC Man Arrested for Allegedly Punching Woman Following Viral TikTok

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TL/DR –

A man in New York City has been arrested for allegedly randomly punching a woman in Chelsea. The NYPD is investigating seven similar random attacks on women in other areas like Chinatown, the West Village, and Midtown between March 25-27. The suspect, Skiboky Stora, has a history of similar assaults and has only been connected to one of the assaults under investigation.


NY Man Arrested for Random Assault on Woman in Chelsea

A man, identified as Skiboky Stora, has been arrested in New York, accused of randomly punching a woman, Halley Kate, in the face in Chelsea. Kate’s video about the attack went viral on TikTok, attracting millions of views.

The NYPD confirmed they are investigating seven similar random assaults on women between March 25-27, mainly in Chinatown, the West Village, Chelsea, and Midtown. Victims were assaulted while walking, most of them being punched in the head.

Co-chair of the City Council’s women’s caucus, Julie Menin, condemned the assaults, urging women to remain vigilant. Stora, 40, was arrested on Wednesday, charged with misdemeanor assault and harassment.

Stora is known to the police, having been arrested previously for similar offenses. He is now held on $10,000 bail. So far, he has only been linked to the assault on Kate but remains a suspect in several other open cases.

Kate’s viral TikTok video gave voice to other women who also reported being randomly attacked. Another woman, Olivia Brand, reported a similar incident in a TikTok video.

Another attack was caught on surveillance video in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, where a woman’s jaw was broken. The suspect was arrested and charged with misdemeanor assault.

Questioned by CBS New York’s Lisa Rozner, Menin admitted uncertainty about whether all the attacks were carried out by the same individual. The NYPD released a Twitter statement expressing its commitment to stop such violent criminals and ensuring community safety.

The NYPD’s statement prompts a conversation about how repeat offenders are managed by the justice system. This issue was recently discussed by Mayor Eric Adams following the tragic death of NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller.

The police are urging any other victims of similar attacks to come forward.


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