Teenage girl arrested for alleged hate-motivated assault on Toronto subway: police
The 18-year-old allegedly uttered "homophobic slurs" and sprayed a "noxious substance."
Smalltown Graffiti Staff
November 06, 2025
A Toronto teenager has been arrested for a suspected hate-motivated assault after a video circulated online last month appearing to show her pepper spray a subway rider while uttering “homophobic slurs.”
Police say the alleged assault happened around 1 AM on Oct. 21 near the Bloor-Yonge TTC station. A passenger captured it on video:
Toronto woman sprays "noxious substance" after allegedly uttering "homophobic slurs" at subway riders, say police.
— SMALLTOWN GRAFFITI (@readweirdnews)
2:42 PM • Nov 6, 2025
18-year-old Valentina Ponte Diaz has been arrested and charged with assault with a weapon, possessing dangerous weapons, and administering a “noxious thing with intent.”
In their report, police say Diaz “approached the victim and uttered homophobic slurs” before spraying a “noxious substance” and fleeing the scene. The victim reportedly sustained minor injuries.
Police are treating the incident as a suspected “hate-motivated offence,” which could mean Diaz will face a harsher sentence if she is convicted of the charges laid against her.
Her bail hearing is on Nov. 6.
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