An MTA worker is in custody following an altercation at the Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center subway station in Brooklyn, where a man sleeping on a bench was reportedly slashed. The incident occurred around 1:45 a.m. on the southbound platform for the D and R trains. According to ABC7NY, the MTA employee, a 62-year-old man, was cleaning the station with bleach when a dispute arose with the 47-year-old man who was sleeping on the bench.
During their verbal altercation, which escalated rapidly, the MTA worker is accused of slashing the man above his left eye with a sharp object. While pouring bleach and cleaning, the employee apparently took issue with the man's objection over his working area, reports PIX11 News. The worker was taken into custody at the scene.
The victim, whose identity has not been disclosed, was treated for his injuries at the nearby NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. Details surrounding the nature of the argument and what specifically incited the violence have not been fully disclosed. Current reports do not specify the charges that the MTA employee may face following this incident.
Both sources confirmed that the victim was removed from the station and provided medical attention for the wound received above his left eye, marking the continuation of a series of violent events within the city's subway system. The incident also adds to ongoing concerns about safety in New York City's public spaces. The MTA have not released a formal statement regarding the event as of yet, but charges are pending as the investigation continues.
