Had a similar situation years ago taking the light rail at night. Group of kids wanted my phone. Got off at the next stop to avoid them but they followed. Walking away and one of em hits me in the back of the head. I turn around thinking I'm about to fight but I'm too shocked cause it's a teenage girl!

Or so I thought. "I'm not fighting a little girl" I told em. Got punched in the face...guess I had misgendered them. I start running towards a MTA car I saw in the distance, they notice and fall back.

Wish I fought back instead of running cause it made me paranoid for a long time. But in hindsight I don't know what concealed weapons they may or may not have had.

My advice: you see a group of ANY kind walking towards you at night, nope the fuck into another direction.