NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – A 16-year-old boy came to the aid of his mother as she was being attacked in Brooklyn late Wednesday night, sources told CBS2.

The incident took place at 11:55 p.m. near South 3rd Street and Berry Street in Williamsburg.

A 36-year-old woman was on her way home after leaving a nearby bodega when a man approached her, asking for directions to the subway, sources told CBS2.

The man claimed to know someone in the building, so the woman held open for the door for him, sources said. The man started walking up the stairs while the woman waited in the lobby, sources said.

After a while she headed up the stairs, where she encountered the man, who punched her in the face, knocking her to the ground, sources said.

The man tore at her clothing, ripping her shirt, sources said. The woman’s screams alerted her 16-year-old son, who came out of their apartment. The suspect took off running, sources said.

The son tried chasing the suspect, but his mother pleaded with him not to, and he returned to her, helped her, and called 911, sources said.

The suspect is described as a black man, 6 feet to 6’4″, with a medium build, goatee, glasses and a blue jacket.

The woman said the suspect smelled of alcohol.

Police are reviewing surveillance video to help identify the suspect, sources said.

So far, no arrests have been made.