A Turkish-born artist who moved to New York six years ago was instantly paralyzed from the neck down after a man allegedly pushed her into a moving subway train in what a prosecutor described Wednesday as a «completely unprovoked» attack. «.
Kamal Semrade, 39, was charged with attempted second-degree murder and other crimes for the alleged assault at a subway station on Manhattan’s Upper East Side on Sunday, according to a criminal complaint filed in New York Criminal Court. and obtained by NBC New York.
The 35-year-old victim suffered a fractured cervical spine, a scalp laceration and other injuries after Semrade «grabbed her head with both hands and pushed her with all his might into the moving subway car.» Assistant District Attorney Carolyn McGuigan said Wednesday during Semrade’s arraignment.
In a verified online fundraiser organized in part by her husband, the victim was identified as Emine Yilmaz Ozsoy.
She was instantly paralyzed and remains in critical condition at high risk of death or stroke, McGuigan said.
The attack at the Lexington Avenue and East 63rd Street station occurred at 6:05 a.m. and was captured on security camera and seen by witnesses, McGuigan said.
Ozsoy, a former front page designer for an Istanbul newspaper, moved to New York City in 2017 and wanted to focus on her art, her husband said in a written statement released at the fundraiser. She was heading to work at the time, she said.
She and Semrade were on the same train and got off in Manhattan, McGuigan said.
Semrade followed her, and then pushed her, onto the train that was leaving the station «quickly,» McGuigan said.
“I just see him walk next to her, to her left side, and with open palms he just pushes her head into the train as it moves,” witness Nancy Marrero told NBC New York.
Her body fell «in a circle and just fell onto the platform,» Marrero told the station.
Semrade fled the station, McGuigan said. As Ozsoy lay on the subway platform, he said he couldn’t feel his arm and asked if he was going to die, Marrero said, according to NBC New York.
«I was like, ‘You’re not going to’ die, don’t worry, I’m here,'» Marrero told the station. «I’ll stay with you».
Court records show the New York Police Department took Semrade into custody Tuesday.
In the statement, Ozsoy’s husband, Ferdi Ozsoy, thanked the authorities and those who consoled his wife after the alleged attack. She said she had undergone difficult surgery at Weill Cornell Medical Center and that she was expecting a «long journey of recovery» that would likely hamper the career she had established as an award-winning artist, painter and illustrator.
Ferdi Ozsoy described himself as his wife’s only family in the United States and said he was seeking emergency visas for relatives to help with her care.
«Her life after this is going to need constant care,» he said.
An attorney for Semrade, who was taken into custody during Wednesday’s hearing, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday night. His next court appearance is scheduled for Friday.