A man was pushed onto the subway tracks in a sudden and alarming attack at the 18th Street station in Chelsea yesterday afternoon. According to the Gothamist, the incident took place on the southbound 1 line shortly after 1:30 p.m. First responders transported the 45-year-old victim to Bellevue Hospital, where he was reported to be in critical condition.
The suspect behind the shove fled the scene but a person of interest was subsequently taken into custody later in the afternoon, officials stated. As a result of the investigation, southbound 1 trains temporarily skipped the 18th Street station. This attack on the subway comes not long after another violent event wherein a woman was fatally set on fire on an F train in Brooklyn, belying Mayor Eric Adams' earlier comments about efforts to reduce crime in the subway system.
A more detailed account provided by Eyewitness News featured a chilling video that helped identify the suspect. Kamel Hawkins, a 23-year-old Brooklyn resident, was arrested less than an hour after the attack and has been charged with attempted murder and assault. Eyewitness News reported that police believe the attack was unprovoked and random, with no communication between Hawkins and the victim before the push.
Despite the rising public concern, Mayor Adams has pointed to a decline in subway crime in the past year, emphasizing that "Crime is not surging in the subway system." However, he acknowledges that "People don't want to hear that. They say, 'someone just got burned, Eric.' If someone is shoved to the subway system on the tracks, people are seeing and feeling what they're reading. So our success is overshadowed," as per a statement obtained by the Gothamist. The mayor has also defended his administration's efforts to assist those who appear to need mental health services and to prevent fare evasion.
As riders navigate their commutes amidst these disturbing incidents, the use of cameras in the subway has helped lead to quick arrests, as was the case with Hawkins. The footage of such crimes often circulates widely, increasing their visibility and amplifying commuters' fears. "I actually still feel relatively safe. You know, it's a big city and there's a lot of subway stations and a lot of people commuting, but yeah, it's still really scary when you see it on video like that so clearly," commuter Ethan Barsh told Eyewitness News.
