Overview

• Daquan Armstead, 31, was arrested on suspicion of multiple hate-motivated assaults on women in Lower Manhattan from late March to mid-April.
• Armstead allegedly punched seven women, sometimes in the face, on their heads, or on their backs, in a series of unprovoked attacks.
• Police refute Armstead's claim that the victims had spit on him, emphasizing the random nature of the assaults.
• The attacks have not been linked to other recent incidents in the area that gained attention on social media platforms like TikTok.
• Armstead's arraignment is pending, and it is unclear if he has retained legal counsel.