What you should know
- Authorities released new details Friday about a shooting inside a Brooklyn subway that left a man in critical condition after being shot in the head with his own firearm during rush hour. An incident that occurred on Thursday afternoon and caused panic among the passengers traveling in the carriage at that time.
- Police shared new information after Thursday’s press conference and clarified that they have since obtained more evidence, including a video showing a woman on the train who was also apparently involved in the chaos and may have played a role in moments of violence, officials said Friday.
- The shooting occurred Thursday on an A line train packed with terrified passengers who ran out of the subway when it arrived at the Hoyt-Schermerhorn station. Investigators initially said it appeared the shots were fired after a 36-year-old man brandished a firearm following an argument with a 32-year-old man. The 32-year-old man allegedly grabbed the firearm and shot him multiple times.
NEW YORK — The subway rider who disarmed and shot another man who started a fight after boarding a subway in Brooklyn at the start of the afternoon rush hour a day ago, investigators said Friday, citing newly obtained evidence that , they say, informed the narrative.
According to investigators, a 36-year-old man walked through an emergency exit on Nostrand Avenue without paying and boarded an A train around 4:30 p.m. About 10 minutes later, that man started an argument with a 32-year-old cyclist. and pulled out a gun after being stabbed by a woman who was apparently traveling with the 32-year-old man.
The 32-year-old grabbed the gun and fired four times as the train approached the Hoyt-Schermerhorn stop, sending terrified travelers to the ground and wounding the man. The last thing that was said was that he was in critical condition.
The Brooklyn prosecutor’s office announced in a statement on Friday that they would not file charges against the man who shot another man because they say it was self-defense.
“Yesterday’s shooting inside a crowded subway car was shocking and deeply disturbing. The investigation into this tragic incident is ongoing but, at this stage, evidence of self-defense prevents us from bringing criminal charges against the gunman,” Oren Yaniv, a spokesman for the Brooklyn district attorney, said in a statement.
Investigators are weighing whether to file charges against the woman seen on video stabbing the 36-year-old batterer. She is not in custody at this time.
Investigators describe the 36-year-old man who was shot as the apparent assailant.
The violence, which came a week after Gov. Kathy Hochul mobilized the transit system with 750 National Guard troops and other law enforcement personnel in an attempt to curb crime, sent commuters fleeing the subway car as soon as the doors opened at the Hoyt-Schermerhorn station. Police were able to make an immediate arrest as people ran.
Charges are pending against the suspect. The woman seen in the video stabbing the 36-year-old man was wearing a “pink” black sweater and a mask. She is believed to be around 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs between 110 and 120 pounds.
Violence in the subway system is rare: Serious crimes decreased almost 3% between 2022 and 2023 and murders decreased from 10 to five during the same period, according to police. But serious incidents have drawn attention, such as last month when a passenger slashed a subway driver in the neck. Three recent homicides also made headlines.
The appearance of all this is part of the reason Hochul flooded the transit system with more armed personnel. It’s not enough to tell people that there are police officers at police stations or that security measures, such as newly implemented baggage checks, are being implemented, he says: people need to see them to feel safe.
MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber acknowledged the perception factor at Friday’s news conference.
“Traffic crimes account for 2% of crimes in New York City, but they have a huge disproportionate impact on people’s sense of safety because they are in an environment where they can’t move as easily,” Lieber said. “We’re going to continue to work with the NYPD… and all the uniformed forces that are in the system to make sure that we get the greatest crime prevention and deterrence… and real results in numbers.”
The shooting occurred at a stop where the NYPD has a small office and there were officers on the platform.
Video posted by a passenger shows the minutes before the shooting. A man walks through the crowded car and threatens to hit a seated man. They fight until someone separates them. But the screams continue and a man pulls what appears to be a firearm from his jacket. “Stop! Stop!” the passengers shout.
The video does not show the actual shooting, although several loud bangs can be heard above the commotion of passengers. Passengers run out when the doors open.
Kemper said Friday that the newly obtained video is key to the investigation because it may change the narrative.
“That speaks to the value of video that we talk about all the time,” Kemper said. “And the value it gives our investigators to capture exactly what happened on that train. You can never have too many witnesses.”
Anyone with information can confidentially call authorities at 1-888-57-PISTA.
2024-03-15 17:49:20
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