EXCLUSIVE: Morris Heights woman says she was first victim in man’s 5-hour violent rampage

Danette Torres says she was waiting for Access-A-Ride outside her building just before 5 a.m. Wednesday when she was punched out of nowhere.

Kelly Kennedy

Oct 18, 2025, 2:14 AM

Updated 6 hr ago

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A Morris Heights woman says she was the first victim in a string of violent assaults that left five women injured in a single morning.
Danette Torres says she was waiting for Access-A-Ride outside her building just before 5 a.m. Wednesday when she was punched out of nowhere.
“It took me by surprise, and then he followed me,” Torres told News 12. “So, I’m screaming. I go to the streets... trying to get help and nobody helped.”
Surveillance video shows 23-year-old Jeremiah White approach Torres, punch her in the face, rifle through her bag and throw her lunch at her.
“I had like 12 bottles of Snapple, 20 ounces, and he opened them and was flinging everything,” Torres said. “I got soaking wet with all the drinks.”
Police say just minutes later, White went on a violent spree — attacking at least four more women, including a teenager on her way to school and a woman beaten with a metal pipe.
“When the super finally gave me the video and I look, it’s the same guy,” Torres said. “I couldn’t believe it.”