Madwoman Campaigning for Dem Beats 98-Year-Old with Broomstick and Chair in NYC

A 27-year-old political worker, Tashara Abel, allegedly unleashed a violent attack on a 98-year-old man, using a broomstick and a metal chair during a dispute over campaign flyers for Democratic candidate Anthony Beckford. This shocking incident unfolded in Brooklyn as Abel was distributing reelection materials.

The confrontation erupted when the elderly man entered the lobby of a building at Maple Street and Rogers Avenue around 4 p.m. Abel was stuffing flyers into mailboxes when the nonagenarian walked in. An argument ignited over the campaign handouts, leading to Abel's brutal assault.

According to police reports, Abel repeatedly punched the victim in the neck and struck him with both a wooden broomstick and a metal chair, inflicting injuries to his head and body. A criminal complaint filed against her in Brooklyn Criminal Court details the extent of the violence.

The victim sustained minor head injuries but declined hospital treatment after being treated on-site. Abel fled the scene but was captured on surveillance video entering and exiting the building. Authorities later issued a wanted poster for her, and Beckford identified her to police.

During police questioning, Abel claimed, “He pushed me first, and I pushed him back.” This statement came after she had already fled the scene of the attack.

The victim's wife, who chose to remain anonymous, reported that her husband was “shaken up” by the incident. She explained that he had propped open the door with a small stick while he went to the garage. Upon returning, he collided with Abel as she descended the stairs.

According to the wife’s account, Abel picked up the broom and struck her husband twice in the leg before hitting him with the metal chair. Abel denied any wrongdoing, asserting that she did not hit the victim.

“I was doing a lit job for the candidates that are running back on the ballot for June 23,” Abel stated. She claimed she entered the building after seeing a stick at the door that allowed it to open.

Once inside, she encountered the elderly man, who questioned her presence. Abel insisted she was merely performing her duties.

The victim, who serves as the building's caretaker, demanded that she leave. Abel recounted that he pushed her, prompting her to warn him not to do so. She alleged he spat in her face during their exchange.

Abel described how she reacted to his aggression: “So I said ‘Don’t do that.’ That’s when he went for the door and pushed it open, causing everything behind it to fall—chairs, sticks, everything.”

She claimed that items blocking the entrance were moved during this altercation. “I kicked the chair out of the way,” she recalled. “I moved the stick out of the way. So this man is lying on me.”

Abel faces serious charges including three counts of assault, burglary, and criminal possession of a weapon. She has no prior arrests according to police sources and was released on supervised release.

Beckford reached out to apologize to the victim following the incident, as confirmed by the victim's wife.