Scissor-Wielding Fashionista Strikes in SoHo

It started as an ordinary photo shoot and ended with blood on the sidewalk. On a sunny afternoon in New York City's SoHo neighborhood, a 36-year-old photographer thought he was simply snapping content for social media. Moments later, he had a pair of scissors in his back — and his alleged assailant had vanished into the subway.

The Photo That Sparked the Attack

The incident happened around 4:20 p.m. on May 5, outside Sounds of Brazil, a popular restaurant and nightclub in SoHo. The photographer, who remains unnamed, told police he was taking pictures of the building when a woman appeared in his frame — a woman who, as it turns out, had no interest in being photographed.

When she noticed she was captured in the image, an argument broke out. According to police, the woman first punched the man in the shoulder before pulling a pair of scissors from her bag and stabbing him in the back.

She then fled, walking down Varick Street and entering the Houston Street subway station. Surveillance footage captured her as she left the scene dressed all in black, carrying a black bag, and, notably, still holding the scissors.

A Suspect Comes Forward

Police later arrested 43-year-old Melanie Lyngdoh in connection with the attack. "I stabbed him with scissors," Lyngdoh said, according to the criminal complaint, as reported by the New York Post. However, she claimed the act was self-defense.

Lyngdoh told reporters the man took her picture without consent and got within six inches of her face, despite her repeated attempts to cover up. She feared the image would be misused or digitally altered. "Was he going to create a deepfake about me and put it on porn sites? That threatens me, you know?" she said, according to the New York Post. "I'm from India. My character is what I'm most defensive about. So that's my comment."

Police say she had no prior arrests.

The Aftermath

The photographer declined medical attention for his injuries, which police described as minor. Still, the situation has reignited conversation around privacy in public spaces and when, if ever, confrontation crosses the line into criminal behavior.

Lyngdoh has been charged with second-degree assault. As of now, the investigation is ongoing. Whether her claim of self-defense will hold up in court remains to be seen.

A City on Edge?

New York is no stranger to bizarre encounters, but this one strikes a nerve. In a city filled with smartphones, cameras, and constant surveillance, the boundary between public space and personal privacy continues to blur. What one person sees as a harmless snapshot, another may view as a threat.

References: New York City Police on Hunt for Backstabbing Beauty Who Plunged a Pair of Scissors Into Photographer's Back | Scissor-Wielding, Well-Dressed NYC Woman Stabs Man After He Accidentally Takes Photo of Her: Cops | NYPD Seeks Woman Who Stabbed Photographer With Scissors