A horrifying incident unfolded in a New York City subway station on Tuesday afternoon. Security footage captured the brutal assault of a 45-year-old man who was waiting for a train at the 18th Street station. The victim, who appeared to be looking at his phone, was standing near the edge of the platform when a hooded individual approached him from behind. The assailant then circled around and violently shoved the man onto the tracks, directly into the path of an oncoming train.
The graphic video circulating online shows the train running over the victim, while other passengers in the station are seen fleeing the scene in terror, away from the hooded perpetrator. One individual is now in custody, though specific charges have yet to be released. The victim remains in critical condition. Police have stated that the attack appears to be random. Following the incident, the platform was closed and evacuated for the investigation.
This shocking event is not an isolated incident. Recently, New York City has seen a rise in violent crime, including another particularly heinous attack on a 61-year-old woman from Toms River, New Jersey, who was allegedly set on fire. The suspect in that case, Sebastian Zapeta, has been charged with first- and second-degree murder.
The escalating crime rates have prompted the resurgence of the Guardian Angels, a volunteer vigilante group known for their patrols during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They have once again begun patrolling the city’s subways, recognizable by their signature red berets and jackets. This story is developing.