A violent subway incident in Brooklyn has led to a lawsuit against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) by former TikTok executive Gideon Moncrieffe. The May 10, 2023, attack left Moncrieffe with serious physical and emotional scars after he was slashed in the face by a fellow rider.
Moncrieffe says he intervened in an argument between Sean Lewis, a man with a history of violent arrests, and another passenger. While initially calm, Lewis suddenly attacked Moncrieffe, leaving him with a deep facial wound requiring over 100 stitches.
The lawsuit accuses the MTA of systemic negligence, alleging the train conductor locked the doors during the attack, leaving Moncrieffe unable to escape. The filing describes the assault as a preventable tragedy caused by the agency’s failure to enforce safety measures and respond to emergencies.
Lewis, who pleaded guilty to the attack in August and received a seven-year sentence, had nine prior arrests for violent crimes. Despite this, the MTA disputes claims that he had been banned from the subway system before the incident.
Moncrieffe’s lawsuit seeks damages and demands reforms to improve passenger safety, including more consistent enforcement of prohibited rider policies and better emergency response protocols. He argues that the MTA’s failures put passengers at unnecessary risk, particularly during a time of increased subway violence.
The attack has profoundly affected Moncrieffe’s life, causing PTSD, depression, and the unraveling of his engagement. He says the trauma has left him struggling to recover his sense of safety and personal happiness.
