According to the driver, a young woman who reportedly attacked him with pepper spray in Midtown earlier this week, revealed that she did it due to his skin color.
As the attack unfolded on Wednesday, driver Shohel Mahmud recounted how he heard the victim’s friend shout, “Jen, Jen, what the f–k, what are you doing? What’s going on?” The friend was bewildered, asking why she did that, to which the victim callously responded, “He’s brown.”
In a circulating video on Reddit, Instagram, and YouTube, it can be seen that Jennifer Guilbeault, 23, was sitting in the backseat with another woman when she unexpectedly sprayed the 45-year-old driver in the eyes with a noxious substance at Lexington Avenue and East 66th Street around 11:30 p.m.
According to Mahmud, he encountered the women in Midtown and did not engage in any conversation with them prior to the assault.
“He said that they were conversing amongst themselves while he focused on driving. As they headed straight down the Central Park Traverse towards 65th and Lexington, an unexpected event occurred. Out of nowhere, a girl sprayed him with pepper spray for no apparent reason.”
According to the driver, he believed that the women were trying to steal his car and phone. When the attack began, he jumped out of the vehicle, but the car continued to move at a slow pace. He then got back into the car, where the woman continued to spray him.
As he spoke, he expressed his disbelief and frustration. “It’s completely absurd,” he exclaimed. “I wasn’t doing anything and she sprayed me with pepper spray. That’s against the law. She assaulted me as a driver for no apparent reason. This is nothing but a hate crime.”
According to the driver, who resides in Elmhurst, Queens, he immediately dialed 911 when his assailant attempted to escape. He is 45 years old.
According to him, “She attempted to flee, but her friend called out to her, saying ‘Jen, come over here.’ She only managed to go one block away before the police arrived.”
According to police, Guilbeault has been issued a desk appearance ticket for the assault and will be required to appear in court at an undisclosed date. As per a police spokesperson, the assault is not being investigated as a hate crime.
According to Mahmud, sharing details of the attack with his family caused his daughter to become quite upset. Additionally, the experience is also having an impact on him.
The driver expressed, “I’m not feeling completely mentally sound, but I have to continue working. My responsibilities include taking care of my wife, my mother, and my three children who live with me.”
The attacker left the driver, who has three children aged 17, 14, and 1, feeling the need to spread a message about treating people with more kindness and respect.
He mentioned that we are living in the 21st century, where the world has become smaller, and individuals have the flexibility to work from any location. Additionally, he stated that videos can be accessed from anywhere, highlighting the technological advancements that have made this possible.
