New York City Woman, 81, Vows to Continue Daily Walks Despite Assault

Manhattan, NY — An 81-year-old woman from New York City, identified only as Gloria, has vowed not to let a violent assault deter her from her daily routine of walking her dog. According to FOX 5, Gloria was attacked on Friday evening while walking her dog near W. 66th Street and Amsterdam Avenue on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

The assault, which occurred around 7 p.m., was captured on surveillance video obtained by FOX 5. The footage shows Gloria walking her dog when a man dressed in black approaches her, engages briefly, and then suddenly punches her in the side of the head. The impact caused her to hit her head against a nearby building before falling to the ground. The man then walked away as bystanders rushed to assist Gloria.

Gloria, who suffered bruises to her face and neck and was hospitalized with a concussion, described the experience as “scary.” She expressed her relief at surviving the attack, stating, “That’s the scary part, [it happened] in front of my building.” Despite her injuries, Gloria told FOX 5’s Duarte Geraldino, “I’m not going to hide in my apartment.”

The New York Police Department (NYPD) is actively investigating the incident. This attack adds to a troubling pattern of random assaults in the city. In March, several women reported similar incidents, including TikTok user Olivia Brand, who shared her experience of being punched by a stranger on the sidewalk.

Gloria’s determination to continue her daily walks despite the attack highlights her resilience and refusal to let fear control her life. The NYPD is urging anyone with information about the assailant to come forward as they continue their investigation.