A straphanger was subjected to a brutal and unprovoked attack at the Howard Beach-JFK Airport subway station in Queens, New York. Elizabeth Gomes, the victim, expressed her trauma and fear in a statement read during the sentencing of her attacker, Waheed Foster. Gomes, who suffered the loss of her right eye due to the assault, chose not to face Foster in court, as it would have brought back painful memories and tears.
Foster, who has a history of mental health issues and has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, received a 22-year prison sentence as part of a plea deal. However, he still faces a murder charge in the Bronx for allegedly strangling his girlfriend to death. Judge Ira Margulis criticized the system for allowing Foster to be released repeatedly without proper treatment, stating that he should have been in a mental hospital.
Gomes, who works in security at Kennedy International Airport, was attacked while on her way to work. Foster had a prior criminal record, including assaulting his grandmother and stabbing a woman in the face at a mental institution. In August of the previous year, he was charged with the murder of his former girlfriend.
Gomes expressed gratitude for Foster’s imprisonment but acknowledged that it would not restore her eyesight. She shared the lasting impact of the attack, including the constant reminder when she looks in the mirror and the negative comments she receives from others. Despite these challenges, Gomes strives to remain strong for herself, her children, and other women who may face similar situations.
1 Response
The straphanger being subjected to a brutal and unprovoked attack at the Howard Beach-JFK Airport subway station in Queens, New York is like a helpless bird being suddenly swooped down upon by a predator in the middle of a peaceful forest.