Police: 3 Men Caught On Video Attacking Woman In Brooklyn
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - A Brooklyn woman spoke out on Monday night, after being attacked by three men in Brooklyn.
The incident took place at 2:30 a.m. Oct. 2 on Franklin Avenue near Prospect Place in Crown Heights.
Aspiring model Gwendolyn Reyes, 21, told CBS 2's Hazel Sanchez that it was difficult to watch surveillance video of the men who ganged up on her and beat her as she lay helpless on the ground.
"They just rushed me, so the first thing I thought of -- 'Is this really happening?"" she said.
The video shows the three men walking in the opposite direction of Reyes. After the first man walks past her, another member of the group suddenly grabs her and pushes her to the wall of a nearby building.
The two struggle, and the man punches her twice, leaving her in a heap on the street. The man who beat her is seen walking away.
The other men are then seen trying to steal the Reyes' purse that is over her shoulder. She is dragged down the street as the video cuts out.
"I just remember the whole attack, and for them leaving me, I remember them just dragging me, and then I started yelling for someone to help me," Reyes said. "And then that's when I realized blood was coming from my face, but I didn't know where from my face."
Police said the men got away with her purse and iPhone. Reyes was treated for a broken nose at a local hospital.
CBS 2's Ilana Gold showed the video to nearby residents. Their reactions spoke volumes.
"Oh my gosh, that was absolutely horrifying," said Carly Schleider, who lives less than a block away and said she normally walks the same route as the victim. "It's very upsetting. It makes me fearful, of course."
"I just moved here. That makes me feel unsafe," resident Shatrece Slaughter added.
Police told Gold the attack appears to have been random, adding the victim could have been targeted because she was walking alone and carrying a cell phone.
'This horrible stuff. It seems to happen randomly to people. It's just really sad," Schleider said."I hope they catch them as soon as possible."
Reyes told CBS 2's Sanchez that she is confident that police will catch her attackers, that she is not afraid, and that nothing will prevent her from pursuing her modeling career.
Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call Crime stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or by texting tips to 274637 (CRIMES) and then entering TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.
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