NEW YORK – A man wielding a machete attacked three people at a busy subway station in New York City on Saturday morning. The police responded quickly, and tragically, the suspect was shot and killed during the incident.
The chaos began around 9:40 a.m. at the 42nd Street-Grand Central station when police received an emergency call reporting an assault. Upon arrival, officers found the suspect behaving erratically and claiming to be “Lucifer.” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that officers commanded him to drop his weapon 20 times, but he refused to comply. When he advanced towards them with the machete raised, officers were forced to intervene, shooting him twice.
Commissioner Tisch explained, “Our officers were confronted with an armed individual who had already injured multiple people and was continuing to pose a threat. They gave clear commands. They attempted to de-escalate. And when that threat did not stop, they took decisive action to stop it and to protect New Yorkers on one of the busiest train platforms in the city.”
The suspect has been identified as Anthony Griffin, 44, who had a history of three prior arrests. He was pronounced dead at Bellevue Hospital shortly after the incident.
The victims of the attack included an 84-year-old man, a 65-year-old man, and a 70-year-old woman. Fortunately, their injuries were not life-threatening, although one man sustained severe lacerations to his head and face, while another had an open skull fracture. The third victim suffered a laceration to the shoulder.
According to Chief of Transit Joseph Gulotta, the attacks appeared to be random acts of violence. The victims were attacked in different locations within the station, with one incident occurring on a platform and the others upstairs.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressed gratitude to the police for their swift actions, noting on social media, “I’m grateful to our brave officers who acted quickly to stop the suspect. We’re working closely with the NYPD as the investigation unfolds.”
In response to the situation, the police advised travelers to avoid the area during the investigation, expecting delays and heavy traffic. The Metropolitan Transit Authority announced that some subway trains would not be stopping at Grand Central due to the ongoing situation.
Witnesses described the scene as chaotic. Beau Lardner, who was at the station when the shots rang out, recounted that the sounds were loud enough to be heard even through his headphones. He noted a sudden rush of people trying to escape, saying, “I’ve never seen a crowd move like that.”
This incident underscores the importance of safety in public spaces and the critical role that law enforcement plays in responding to threats. As investigations continue, the community is left to grapple with the reality of violence in such a central hub of activity.
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Robertson reported from Raleigh, N.C. Associated Press writer Hannah Fingerhut in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to this report.
