Houston, TEXAS
Police in New York City are stepping up their patrols to prevent any further subway system violence, after two people were pushed onto the tracks in front of oncoming trains in as many weeks, one resulting in a woman’s death.
The latest incident happened on Sunday.
The New York City Police Department (NYPD) said a 62-year-old man was pushed onto the tracks in front of a train in Lower Manhattan, making contact with the first car, before falling on the tracks.
The man, whose name has not yet been released, survived the violent attack, but suffered a leg wound and was taken to the hospital for treatment. The suspect fled the scene, and no arrests have been made.
The first attack happened on Jan. 15. Police say 40-year-old Michelle Go was pushed in front of an oncoming subway train in Manhattan’s Times Square, as she stood on the platform awaiting her ride. Go died at the scene.
The alleged attacker, 61-year-old Martial Simon, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. Police say Simon is a homeless man with a history of violence and mental health issues.
With New Yorkers getting back on public transit in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, New York City Mayor Eric Adams wants to tackle the problem head-on.
Speaking to CNN on Sunday morning, Adams announced plans to flood the subway system with an army of mental health professionals and police officers, saying, “We should not wait for someone to carry out a dangerous action, when we know they are on this station in the first place.”
The mayor stressed the importance of identifying potentially dangerous citizens, who are in need of mental health treatment, adding, “that person will receive the proper care and removed from our subway system.”
According to the Associated Press, Metropolitan Transit Authority Chairman Janno Lieber expressed his contempt for the recent subway violence, saying they “are unacceptable and have to stop.”
Lieber emphasized the importance of the new mental health initiative in preventing any further violence, saying, “New Yorkers are coming back to the subway and they need it to be safe.”
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