Man sentenced to 22 years in prison for brutal Queens subway attack that left woman losing an eye

A mentally disturbed man whose attack on a woman in a Queens subway station cost the victim an eye was sentenced to 22 years in prison on Monday.

Elizabeth Gomes, 33, was on her way to work on Sept. 20, 2022, when she was followed and attacked by Waheed Foster, 41, as she got off the train at the Howard Beach/JFK Airport subway station, authorities said.

As a result of the brutal attack, Gomes suffered serious injuries and, among other things, lost her right eye.

Assistant Queens District Attorney Kanella Georgopoulos read a statement from the victim, who found it too painful to attend the sentencing.

“Being in court today would have brought back so much pain, tears and bad memories,” Gomes explained.

“The kind of pain and memories that I try to forget, even though I can’t, because every time I look in the mirror I remember it,” she continued. “I’m very grateful to be alive and really grateful that Mr. Foster is going to be put away for a while, even if it doesn’t give me my sight back.”

According to prosecutors, Foster approached the victim in the train station and tried to start a conversation with her, then followed her to the mezzanine of the station.

When Gomes ignored his advances, Foster dragged her across the floor and slammed her against the wall. According to police, he repeatedly punched her and kicked her in the face and body.

“The attack has really changed my life and every day is a challenge,” Gomes explained. “People ask me what’s wrong with my eyes. Sometimes children think I’m scary. I try to overcome all the negative comments and be strong, especially for myself and my children and other women out there.”

The brutal attack was captured on camera.

“I have seen the video,” said Judge Ira Margulis. “The defendant attacks the victim for no reason at all, takes a bottle out of a shopping bag and attacks her. And then as she is on the ground, he brutally kicks and beats her and she loses her sight.”

Margulis highlighted Foster’s long history of mental illness, which includes schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Foster’s 22-year prison sentence will be followed by five years of probation upon release.

In March, Governor Hochul announced a $20 million federal funding injection to expand the MTA’s Subway Co-Response Outreach Teams initiative.

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz called the attack “unconscionable.”

“A 33-year-old woman was simply on her way to work when, without warning, Waheed Foster struck her in the head with an object, punched her in the head and repeatedly kicked her in the face,” she said in a statement.

“A Good Samaritan attempted to intervene during the attack but was pursued by the attacker, who then continued his brutal attack. It is a miracle that she is still alive today after the brutal attack she suffered.”