NYPD Searches for Man Who Called Woman 'Dyke' and Broke Her Spine

The New York City Police Department is searching for a man who allegedly called a woman a "dyke" before punching her so hard he fractured her spine. The man, who was traveling from Queens on the Manhattan-bound E train November 30, was triggered when he saw another woman kiss the victim on the cheek, Gothamist reports.

Following the kiss on the cheek, the assailant and the victim began to argue, and as she stepped away, he came up behind her, punched her in the head, and shoved her to floor of the train, where she hit her head, according to reports from the NYPD. The assailant then fled the scene at the next stop at Forest Hills-71st Avenue.

The woman was taken to Elmhurst Hospital Center, where she was treated for a fractured spine, according to Gothamist.

New York City's Hate Crime Task Force is investigating the incident. Anyone with information is being urged to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at (800) 577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish, (888) 57-PISTA (74782).