A man who sucker punched an MTA worker at a midtown Manhattan subway station was sentenced to seven years in prison for the unprovoked attack that left the woman with several head and facial injuries.
Robert Ray, 35, pleaded guilty to an assault charge after prosecutors said he attacked the worker in September 2024 at the 53rd Street and Lexington Avenue subway station while she walked to a bathroom and checked on an escalator.
Ray admitted he ran up behind her and punched her in the face before fleeing the station.
The victim, station agent Tamika Davis, suffered a gash to her face, swelling, and pain. She said Ray deserved more than seven years in jail. She also urged the NYPD to put more cops in the subways and on the platforms.
John Chiarello, TWU Local 100 President, comforts MTA station agent Tamika Davis after Robert Ray’s sentencing in Manhattan Supreme Court Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026 in Manhattan, New York. Ray seriously assaulted Davis in 2024. (Barry Williams/ New York Daily News)
“I’m glad he’s going to be off the streets so he can’t hurt anyone else,” she said. “I’m glad that justice was served and he got the time that was given, but I wish it would have been more.”
Ray was also sentenced to an additional five years of probation once he’s released from prison
TWU Local 100 President John Chiarello urged city officials to keep violent, mentally ill people off the streets and subways.
John Chiarello, TWU Local 100 President, speaks after Robert Ray’s sentencing in Manhattan Supreme Court Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026 in Manhattan, New York. (Barry Williams/ New York Daily News)
“This is sadly not uncommon in this city,” Chiarello said at a news conference at Manhattan Criminal Court, where Ray was sentenced. ”Our members are getting hurt, injured nearly every single day.”
Chiarello said the sentence Ray received was the maximum penalty allowed under state law.
“Today justice was delivered for a station agent who was assaulted while just doing her job cleaning a platform,” New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow said in a statement. “Let this be a reminder that those who harm employees will be caught and will face consequences.”
John Chiarello, TWU Local 100 President, comforts MTA station agent Tamika Davis after Robert Ray’s sentencing in Manhattan Supreme Court Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026 in Manhattan, New York. Ray seriously assaulted Davis in 2024. (Barry Williams/ New York Daily News)
While Ray was locked up on Rikers Island awaiting trial before his guilty plea, he launched another unprovoked attack several months later, this time on a city correction officer, officials said.
The woman correction officer Ray attacked from behind without warning suffered injuries severe enough to require emergency surgery, according to officials.
The officer was knocked unconscious and rushed to a local hospital with serious injuries.