Unprovoked street assault: Man strangles woman in disturbing early-morning incident in Midtown
In a concerning incident that occurred on August 10, 2025, in the heart of Midtown, NYC, near the corner of West 47th Street and 8th Avenue, a sexual predator is being sought by the NYPD's Special Victims Detectives.
At around 3:30 a.m., the perpetrator, later identified as Anthony Smith, a 37-year-old man from Hell's Kitchen, allegedly approached a 21-year-old woman from behind while she was walking on the sidewalk. Smith is said to have strangled the woman, causing her to lose consciousness.
Upon regaining consciousness, the victim discovered Smith with his hands on her vagina, prompting her to escape. Smith then fled westbound on 47th Street towards 9th Avenue.
Smith has a criminal history and was remanded to Rikers Island without bail after pleading not guilty. He was arrested on August 13, 2025, and charged with attempted rape, strangulation, and sex-motivated strangulation.
The NYPD has released images of the perpetrator sought for this horrific act. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (888-57-PISTA for Spanish). Tips can also be submitted at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org or by messaging @NYPDTips on X (formerly Twitter). All tips are kept confidential.
The victim was taken to NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan and is currently in stable condition. The incident is being thoroughly investigated by the special victims detectives.
The NYPD urges the public to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to the authorities. The safety of the community is of utmost importance.
War-and-conflicts in Midtown, NYC took an alarming turn with the emergence of a violent incident involving a sexual predator, Anthony Smith. This incident, which has further highlighted the need for vigilance, falls under general news, crime-and-justice, and politics as it raises concerns about community safety and the effectiveness of justice systems. The pursuit of Smith and the ongoing investigation by special victims detectives is also a topic of political importance, as it confronts the challenges faced by law enforcement in providing safety and justice for all citizens.
