Third Wave Knock Out Trend Back In NYC

‘Knockout Challenge’ Returns: Women Targeted in Random Attacks Across NYC

By Ximena Rodríguez-López

Young Woman Assaulted By Man in NYC Times Square

New York, NY  -A disturbing wave of random assaults targeting women in New York City has resurfaced, with multiple incidents now reportedly tied to a so-called “knockout challenge” — a dangerous social media trend in which men sucker-punch women without provocation or when their advances are rejected.

The latest rise in attacks was ignited by a viral TikTok video posted in March 2024 by influencer Halley Kate, who described being suddenly punched in the face while walking in Chelsea, Manhattan. Her account prompted a cascade of similar reports from other women, many of whom were attacked in broad daylight by male assailants in public spaces.

“It was out of nowhere,” Kate said in her video. “One second I was on my phone, and the next I was on the ground.”

Authorities have since confirmed the arrest of 40-year-old Skiboky Stora in connection with Kate’s assault. Stora, who has a prior criminal record, was held on $10,000 bail. In a separate incident, 30-year-old Mallik Miah was charged with misdemeanor assault after allegedly punching 27-year-old Mikayla Toninato near Fifth Avenue.

The NYPD is currently investigating at least seven such attacks reported between March 17 and March 26, 2024. Law enforcement has officially confirmed a coordinated challenge, the pattern of seemingly random, unprovoked violence from men targeting women has reignited public concern about the safety of women in urban environments.

This marks what some are calling the third wave of the “knockout challenge” — a violent trend that first gained notoriety in the early 2010s. This new resurgence, fueled by online virality and desensitized social media culture, has put women on edge and renewed calls for more proactive public safety measures.

Public safety experts are now encouraging women to take extra precautions while walking alone, avoid interactions with unknown men in public, and remain alert in subway stations and crowded areas. Some advocacy groups have gone further, advising women to create physical and social distance from unknown men whenever possible.