A Brooklyn man stands accused of a harrowing act that unfolded on New Year's Day, when he allegedly pushed a 72-year-old man into a moving subway train at the 161st Street-Yankee Stadium station in the Bronx. Anton Aleshin, 29, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder charges during his arraignment, the Gothamist reports. The violent encounter reportedly occurred around 3:30 a.m., with Aleshin being apprehended shortly after the incident, around 20 minutes later. The victim, Julio Figueroa, was transported to Lincoln Hospital in stable condition following the attack, which left him with cuts to his head and a loss of consciousness.
Details from the PIX11 News reveal that Figueroa, a great-grandfather, is currently in intensive care, enduring immense suffering as a result of his injuries which include two broken ribs, a disfigured face, staples in his head, and internal bleeding. Witnesses swiftly alerted authorities and officers were on the scene in moments, allowing for Aleshin's prompt arrest.
Figueroa's family, in a display of resilience and hope, has chosen to share his story, possibly in pursuit of preventing future tragedies. Venis Falu, Figueroa's Goddaughter, expressed her wish for heightened awareness through her statement to PIX11 News, "He wants people to know his story so that this doesn’t happen again." Aleshin, identified as a Russian national and doctor in residence at Brookdale Hospital, has an attorney who depicted his lifelong commitment to healing the ill – a narrative starkly at odds with the nature of the accusations leveled against him.
Investigators, after reviewing surveillance footage and conducting interviews, charged Aleshin with attempted murder and assault. "Why would you try to hurt someone if you’re trying to save lives?" Falu questioned during the PIX11 News interview, reflecting on the cruel irony of a caregiver turning assailant. According to police, Aleshin admitted to the act, which they believe to have been unprovoked. No comment was offered by Aleshin's defense on the charges as of yet. Brookdale Hospital, where Aleshin is enrolled in a residency program, has thus far declined to comment on his current status with the institution.
