Recent attacks have local seniors feeling uneasy

Especially as a senior, it feels like you need to be constantly aware of your surroundings everywhere you go — because anything can happen at any time.”

Mike, Riverdale resident

Riverdale seniors have a feeling of defenselessness following multiple attacks on seniors in the past month, including an occurrence earlier this month in Kingsbridge Heights when a 74-year old man was pushed out of a Bx9 bus and required hospitalization.

The incident took place at about 11:35 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 5 near West Kingsbridge Road and Sedgwick Avenue, when an unidentified individual pushed the elderly man out of the bus, causing the victim to sustain serious physical injury, according to police.

The NYPD did not provide any further information pertaining to the injury, as of press time.

The suspect fled the scene in an unknown direction following the incident while the victim was transported to St. Barnabas Hospital in stable condition by Emergency Medical Services.

The NYPD also provided photos of the perpetrator, who is still at large.

In two recent and separate incidents, it was reported a 77-year old man was punched in the face several times at the Norwood-205th Street subway station on Feb. 3, while a 65-year old man was punched to the head and knocked to the ground while walking in Pelham Parkway at 1 a.m. on Jan. 21.

The victim of the latter incident was hospitalized for a face laceration, according to the NYPD.

The recent influx of attacks on seniors in the Bronx has local seniors feeling on edge and powerless.

A 74-year old Riverdale resident, Danny, who did not provide his last name to avoid identity tracing, said the assault makes him feel the need to be constantly aware wherever he goes.

“It seems like everywhere you look, there’s a threat of some kind,” he said. “Senior assaults, cyberattacks — it’s hard to feel 100 percent safe and comfortable all the time, anywhere.”

Another senior and Riverdale resident, Mike, who also wished to not provide his last name, said the attacks on seniors makes him feel fearful.

“It’s like, every time you turn on the news it’s another story of an elderly person being attacked,” Mike said. “It’s scary.”

Walking along Riverdale Avenue, another resident who requested full anonymity stressed the importance of having a constant police presence in the area and throughout the city.

“You can’t have a police officer on every block, but we need more security and more of a police presence, especially in [Riverdale],” she said.

In September 2024, the NYPD reported over 1,800 assaults on people over the age of 65, a 14 percent increase in senior attacks compared to the year before.

“Especially as a senior, it feels like you need to be constantly aware of your surroundings everywhere you go — because anything can happen at any time,” Mike said.