It was a quiet afternoon in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, on August 26, 2020, when a random act of violence turned into a story of heroism.
A 60-year-old woman was walking down the sidewalk near Hancock and Lewis Avenue when a man on a bicycle suddenly veered toward her — and punched her hard in the face.
The blow knocked her to the ground. She was stunned, bleeding, and terrified.
But the attacker, later identified as 53-year-old Daniel Biggs, didn’t get far.
Because his victim had collapsed right in front of an FDNY firehouse — Engine 214 / Ladder 111.
Four firefighters, who had witnessed the assault with their own eyes, rushed into action. They sprinted from the station, chasing Biggs down the block. Witnesses described the scene like something out of a movie — a man fleeing on a bike, pursued by men in uniform charging after him.
Biggs tried to fight them off. He even punched one firefighter in the eye, causing visible bruising and swelling. But the team didn’t back down.
Within moments, they had tackled him to the ground, restraining him until NYPD officers arrived.
Biggs was arrested and charged with assault, menacing, harassment, and attempted assault. Police later revealed that he had a long criminal history — at least 18 prior arrests, including assault and robbery.
The woman, though shaken, suffered only a cut to her mouth and refused further medical treatment.
The FDNY later praised their firefighters for their quick thinking and bravery.
Neighbors called them heroes.
“This could have been anyone’s mother or grandmother,” one resident told local reporters. “They didn’t just watch — they acted.”
The motive behind Biggs’ attack remains unclear. Police described it as completely unprovoked.
For the firefighters of Engine 214, it was just another day of protecting their community — on and off the clock.