A frightening scene in New York has a lot of parents on edge this week after a local mom shared her terrifying experience walking home with her young son. In a TikTok video that quickly gained traction, the visibly shaken mother claimed that a homeless man tried to kick her son as she pushed his stroller down a city street. The incident reportedly happened after a trip to CVS, and the mom is now urging other NYC parents to stay alert while out with their kids.
The woman, who lives in New York City, said the afternoon started out perfectly normal. She had just bought her little boy a pumpkin-shaped container for Halloween candy, and he was happily playing with it during their walk home. Everything changed in a matter of seconds. “Thank God I was paying attention. I wasn’t on my phone,” she said in the video, still clearly rattled.
According to her, the man who appeared to be homeless approached them suddenly and without warning. “This homeless man comes out of nowhere and comes up to my stroller literally and goes like that,” she said, mimicking a kicking motion toward her son. “Literally right at his face. Thank God he had the pumpkin thing over him.”
New York Mom Says Stranger Tried To Kick Her Son
The mom’s instincts kicked in instantly. She yanked the stroller back and screamed, startling people nearby. Thankfully, a construction worker in the area saw what happened and jumped into action. “He literally went after this man and was like, ‘What is wrong with you?’” she recalled. Another bystander came over to make sure the mother and child were okay, proving that not everyone is heartless.
Still, the encounter left her shaken and angry. The mom questioned how something like this could happen in broad daylight, surrounded by people, in one of the busiest cities in the world. “Like, what is wrong with people?” she asked, adding that this was a harsh reminder that “you have to be so hyper aware when you’re walking around, because people are actually insane in this world.”
Unfortunately, stories like this are becoming increasingly common across New York, where residents have been vocal about safety concerns, particularly around public spaces and transit areas. Many viewers in the comments echoed the mother’s fears, sharing similar encounters and calling for better protection for families.
It’s A Scary World
“NYC is disgusting right now,” one person said in the comment section. “New York City really is not doing OK,” another agreed. “Time to move,” a third comment read. “That’s terrifying,” a fourth social media user wrote.
It’s unclear whether the woman filed a police report or if the man involved was identified. Still, the viral video struck a chord with parents everywhere especially those living in busy areas of New York. As she put it, her message isn’t about fear but about awareness: “Always pay attention. It could happen in a split second.”
Nina Franklin 
Ruby Roberts 
Dylan Cook 
