‘Totally shocked’: Man saves Queens woman attacked by random assailant

LONG ISLAND CITY, Queens (PIX 11) — A local woman is speaking out after she said she was randomly attacked by a woman in Queens as she was walking down the street just days ago.

That woman recounted the horrifying incident that left her with face wounds and bloodied.

Runing Lao said she had just left Chipotle Wednesday afternoon when she began walking down the street, and a woman who she had never met before started punching her and then used a broken umbrella to slash her in the face.

“I was definitely crying ‘cause I never thought something this dangerous could happen to me,” Lao said.

The shocking and unprovoked attack on Jackson and 43rd avenues in Long Island City left Lao injured and shaken. She wears bandages on her face to cover the bright red scars left following the attack when the woman allegedly attacked her out of nowhere.

“I was just walking right there crossing the street and then all of a sudden a woman hit me for no reason and she … keep hitting me,” said Lao. “I was yelling for help and then I tried to defend myself with my umbrella.”

Desperately trying to fend off her attacker with an umbrella, Lao says the woman snatched it from her, broke it in half, and used it to beat her in the face.

“I was just totally shocked and honestly, I kinda froze ‘cause I had my food in my left hand the whole time,” said Lao. “I had my bag on my right shoulder. I don’t really know what’s going on.”

She screamed for help but says no one came to her aid, despite the nearby onlookers. Just when hope seemed lost, a man she now calls her hero noticed the commotion and intervened. Jerome David lives nearby and said it was a no-brainer to step in and help. He pinned the woman down until the police came.

“This is New York you see some of the craziest things, but it takes one and two to really react and do something to prevent — and we all should do that,” David said.

Lao is now focused on her recovery but says it’s the emotional scars that’ll take longer to heal than the physical ones. As she bravely speaks out about her terrifying experience, she’s hoping her story will shed light on her attack while encouraging others to step in when they see someone in trouble.

The woman who police say attacked Lao has been identified as 34-year-old Arriana Garcia. She’s now facing charges of assault with intent to cause injury, as well as disorderly conduct.

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