A disturbing incident unfolded in Manhattan late Tuesday night when a young woman, Jennifer Guilbeault, sprayed pepper spray into her Uber driver’s eyes. The attack occurred around 11:20 p.m. at the corner of Lexington Avenue and East 65th Street on the Upper East Side.
Dashcam footage reveals details
Guilbeault, riding in the back seat with another woman, suddenly attacked the 45-year-old driver, according to police and dashcam footage. The driver, who was on the phone and looking out the window, was caught off guard as Guilbeault reached around and sprayed him in the face with pepper spray. The video, which has quickly gone viral on platforms such as X, Reddit, Instagram, and YouTube, captures the driver’s desperate reaction. He repeatedly yells, “What? What? What?” while trying to block the assault. Guilbeault held his arm down and sprayed him again as he attempted to escape the vehicle. Her friend, shocked by the attack, can be heard pleading, “Jen, Jen, Jen! Jen, what the f**k! What did you do?” after the driver managed to get out of the car.
Aftermath of the attack
The footage shows Guilbeault stepping out of the car, seemingly in shock, while her friend continues to question her actions. The friend then urges, “OK, take your stuff. Let’s go. We have to go,” before the video cuts off. Guilbeault was arrested around 12:45 a.m. on Wednesday and charged with misdemeanor third-degree assault. She received a desk appearance ticket, requiring her to return to court at a later date. It was confirmed that she has no prior arrest records.
Uber and Taxi Commission respond
An Uber spokesperson condemned the attack, stating, “The rider’s actions shown in the video are deplorable. Violence is not tolerated, and the rider has been banned from the Uber platform. We will support police in their investigation however we can.”
The city’s Taxi & Limousine Commission also issued a statement, saying, “Violence against the city’s drivers, who are simply trying to serve customers and make an honest living, is intolerable and heartbreaking. Anyone who witnesses it or experiences it should always report it to NYPD.”
Online reactions and allegations
The video has sparked outrage online, with one user alleging, “NYC Woman randomly maces Uber driver ‘because he’s brown.’” Another comment highlighted the attacker’s demeanor: “She was smiling at her friend after assaulting that driver. When the friend continuously confronts her, the assaulter looks like a scared child getting caught doing something bad.” The motive behind the attack remains unclear, but the incident has drawn significant attention and condemnation from both the public and authorities.