An early-morning trip through the Broadway–Lafayette subway complex ended in chaos on Jan. 28, and now a Manhattan grand jury has weighed in. Prosecutors say a 28-year-old man first terrorized a young rider on a northbound F train, then, minutes later, repeatedly stabbed another commuter in the station mezzanine. The suspect, arrested in early February, now faces multiple felony counts tied to the back-to-back incidents, according to officials.
Prosecutors announce charges
According to local reporting, prosecutors have indicted 28-year-old Dariel Castillo on assault, robbery and grand larceny charges stemming from the two encounters at Broadway–Lafayette. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office confirmed the indictment, as reported by Patch.
What prosecutors say happened
Police and prosecutors say the trouble unfolded within roughly half an hour at the busy station on Jan. 28. Authorities allege Castillo approached a 25-year-old woman on a northbound F train, took her phone and pulled a knife when she tried to grab it back. She ultimately recovered the device, and the suspect fled the train, according to a summary of police statements reported by Gothamist.
Minutes later in the same complex, the indictment says Castillo got into an argument with a 51-year-old man in the mezzanine. As the older rider tried to walk away, prosecutors allege Castillo stabbed him multiple times in the back. The victim was taken to NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue for treatment and survived, and Castillo was taken into custody on Feb. 4, according to local reporting and police records cited by Patch.
DA's office responds
District Attorney Alvin Bragg publicly flagged the case as news of the indictment spread. In a post on X, Bragg wrote, “As alleged, Dariel Castillo committed two separate acts of violence against strangers just minutes apart, including a brutal stabbing,” adding that his office intends to hold accountable those who undermine transit safety. Alvin Bragg on X
Transit safety context
The case lands amid growing scrutiny of crime in the city’s transit system, as recent coverage and NYPD data show. Some precincts have reported increases in major incident categories underground this year. Earlier this month, Gothamist noted upticks in reported transit offenses in parts of Lower Manhattan, a pattern prosecutors and transit authorities say they are watching closely.
Investigations into the two Broadway–Lafayette incidents remain active. Court records and reporting indicate Castillo is being prosecuted in Manhattan criminal court, while authorities continue to gather evidence and track down additional witness accounts. For readers following the case more closely, local outlets have also detailed the arrest and the suspect’s prior encounters with police, including coverage by the New York Post.
