NYPD-UPDATE-ON-SUBWAY-ATTACKS
New York, NY (77WABC) — Police have four suspects in custody after multiple attacks happened within a span of an hour in the subways early this morning.
Investigators spent the early morning hours and into the late morning, viewing hours of surveillance footage to locate the gang of individuals — who terrorized the underground transportation system and invoked panic and fear with riders heading to work on Friday morning.
Only hours after several people were assaulted inside subway stations in Manhattan — @NYPDDetectives made arrests. @NYPDShea and NYPD executives are at the 59th Street and Columbus Avenue subway station to provide New Yorkers with an update. pic.twitter.com/3qoVYg4AhO
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) May 14, 2021
“I really want to thank the MTA for their cooperation. This was a team effort combined with sharp-eyed police work and the utilization of the MTA cameras to immediately get out pictures of those perpetrators,” said NYPD Police Commissioner Dermot Shea during a press conference on Friday afternoon.
Authorities say at approximately 11:20 Friday morning, cops were able to catch up with the four suspects, as they were riding a northbound 1-Train on West 79th Street and Broadway. The NYPD says all four suspects were taken into custody by police without a struggle.
“We are confident that we have the right people in custody at this time,” said NYPD Assistant Chief Jason Wilcox.
The violent crime-spree began just before 4:30 in the morning after police say a 44-year-old man was slashed across the face, on a southbound 4 train, when it arrived to 14th Street and Union Square.
Minutes later a 40-year-old man was slashed in his nose at the Astor Place Station. The suspects kept riding south on the 4-train, where police say they punched another man and then slashed another man in the back of his head — in addition to stealing his wallet and cash at the City Hall station.
Investigators say a fifth victim was stabbed and slashed several times, including in the eye at around 5 in the morning.
All 5 victims were taken to area hospitals. Police say one of the victims remains in stable condition, while the other four victims were treated and released from the hospital.
The most recent attacks on the subway continues to ignite the public battle between the MTA, the NYPD and the Mayor’s Office when it comes to the spike of violent crime throughout the subway system.
The latest NYPD Statistics show transit crime this past week compared to last year, during the same time period is up 70-percent. And over a 28-day period from this year to last, subway crime is up 15-percent.
MTA interim President Sarah Feinberg released a scathing statement on Friday afternoon — aiming straight at the Mayor for ignoring the transit agency’s pleas for more uniformed patrol officers underground.
“These were five very serious armed robbery and slashing incidents at stations on the same line. All seemingly could have been prevented by a uniformed presence on each of these platforms,” said MTA Interim President Sarah Feinberg. “The responsibility for these vicious attacks does not fall on an already strapped police department – it falls on City Hall and the individuals who are taking advantage of the mayor’s negligence on the issue. If he needed a wake-up call, this is it. Enough is enough. The mayor is risking New York’s recovery every time he lets these incidents go by without meaningful action.”
The President of the Transit Workers Union also responded to the violent attacks early Friday morning. You can watch the comments made by Local 100 President Tony Utano, in a joint press conference with MTA CEO Pat Foye, calling for Mayor de Blasio to resign.
The NYPD praised the incredible work conducted by detectives from Transit District 1 and the MTA for using technology to spread photos of the suspects to all patrol officers through department issued cell phones.
NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea says his team is diligently working with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office to develop formal charges against the suspects they believe are responsible.
NYPD Chief Jason Wilcox during the news conference on the capture of the suspects said one of the four suspects was arrested for a knife-point robbery back in January but was released from prison.
Late Friday afternoon, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted “This is how we keep our subways safe. The NYPD took quick action today and sent a clear message: If you commit crimes in the subways, you will pay the consequences.”
