A 19-year-old Manhattan subway rider was struck in the head with a metal water bottle and put in a chokehold by another commuter who thought the victim was using his cellphone to record him, police said Friday.
Cops have released an image of the attacker, hoping that someone will recognize him.
The attack happened at 4:30 p.m. Thursday as the Bronx-bound No. 5 train the two men were on approached the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall station.
“Why are you recording me?” the suspect, sporting a black hoodie and a baseball cap, asked the victim, who was looking down at his phone at the time.
As the two argued, the suspect struck the teen in the head repeatedly with a metal water bottle he was carrying, cops said. The victim was then punched numerous times in the face and put in a chokehold before the attacker ran out of the subway car once the train doors opened.
The victim took himself to Bellevue Hospital to be treated for minor injuries, cops said.
No arrests have been made.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.