Hard-punching pensioner, 71, fights off four teens who attacked her on New York City subway
'Fierce' Linda Rosa managed to force some of her attackers facedown on the floor 'like rams' before they ran off - after they attempted to steal her purse as she was going to church
A hard-punching pensioner managed to fight off a group of four teens who laid into her during an attempted robbery.
Brave Linda Rosa, 71, managed to repel the women who assaulted her in a New York City subway station as she headed to church on New Year’s Day. The ex-MTA computer operations worker was walking through the Hoyt Street subway stop in Brooklyn at around 6pm when an assailant tried to take her purse. But Linda refused to let go, even when one of the teens asked her: “Oh, you want to fight?” according to New York Post.
Linda said she was hit in the face by an attacker, leaving her with a cut on her nose and her glasses on the floor. She then proceeded to ‘wrestle’ her assaulter while trying to stop the other women from sneakily taking her possessions.
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During the scuffle, she was knocked to the ground while attempting to kick a teen between the legs. Linda said she was then stomped on by a member of the group. But she bravely rose up from the floor and grabbed hold of one of the teen’s braids. Linda used this maneuver to force two of her attackers ‘facedown’ on the floor ‘like rams’, in scenes reminiscent of a WWE bout.
She eventually let them go and retrieved a pocket pouch containing her ID and medical records, which they had taken from her during the assault.
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Linda told New York Post: “I was trying to kick her in between her legs, but my leg wouldn’t stretch far enough, so I believe that’s when I fell. I fell, and then she stomped on me.”
“I got an impression in me that she was going to stomp me again, but she was going to aim towards my head. So I got up right away, and with that, I grabbed her braids and twirled them around my right hand, and then I pulled her down. She had her head down. Then the other young lady said, ‘Let her go.’ And I said, ‘Oh, no, I’m not letting her go.’”
“Out of nowhere, I [then] grabbed her hair and twisted it around my left hand. So I had them both facedown….[like] rams when they’re getting ready to fight.”
The New York Police Department later released video footage showing the four suspects looking stunned while exiting a set of turnstiles at the station after the alleged assault. Despite her bravery, Linda said she ‘forgave’ the women for their actions.
Facebook users who spotted Linda’s heroics praised the 71-year-old for taking on her attackers. One person wrote: “Go Linda!!!! God bless her! These thugs need to be stopped.” Another added: “I read that this morning. It's just awful. I'm glad she could fight and that she made it to her people to care for her. But what if she hadn't? That hurts.” A further Facebook user said: “Good for this lady! Stand your ground! Fierce for 71!”