New York – A 23-year-old woman with a history of eight prior arrests was apprehended for a disturbing bottle attack on a subway cellist, captured on video. Despite calls for her to be held on bail, the suspect, Amira Hunter, was released shortly after her arrest.
Hunter was taken into custody 15 days after allegedly assaulting Iain S. Forrest, the 29-year-old cellist, as he performed in the Herald Square station. Manhattan prosecutors argued for cash bail or bond due to Hunter’s previous failures to appear in court for criminal cases. In addition, she had outstanding bench warrants related to petit larceny cases.
The suspect’s criminal record includes arrests for grand larceny and assaulting her mother multiple times. However, despite her past actions, the judge opted for supervised release over setting bail for the assault charge Hunter faced. The violent attack on Forrest, where she reportedly used his own water bottle to hit him during his performance, had left him traumatized.
Forrest, a Mount Sinai PhD student, expressed his distress over the incident and his reluctance to play music following the attack. He did, however, receive support from D’Addario Orchestral, who provided him with new tools to facilitate his return to playing. The musician announced the suspension of his subway performances and called for better protection for musicians following the assault.
In response to the incident, the MTA emphasized the need for safety in the transit system and vowed to hold the perpetrator accountable once apprehended. Forrest and other musicians formed the Subway Performers Advocacy Group to advocate for enhanced security measures to safeguard performers in New York’s transit hubs. The community rallied behind Forrest, expressing solidarity and concern for the safety of all individuals in the public transportation system.