Honduran immigrant charged with attempted murder for allegedly shoving 2 men onto NYC subway tracks
A 30-year-old man and an 83-year-old man were both pushed onto the tracks, with the latter in critical condition
A male suspect originally from Honduras was arrested and charged with attempted murder after allegedly shoving two men onto the New York City subway tracks this past weekend.
The suspect, Bairon Hernandez, 34, was arrested overnight Tuesday in Brooklyn at a shelter after police said they received a tip, WABC reported Tuesday. Hernandez was arrested and charged with attempted murder, attempted assault, assault, and reckless endangerment.
A 30-year-old man and an 83-year-old man were both pushed onto the tracks on Sunday around 11:30 a.m. at the Lexington Avenue-63rd Street station.
The younger man, John Rodriguez, of Queens, was standing on the southbound F/Q platform when he was suddenly pushed from behind and fell onto the tracks. Hernandez allegedly then approached an 83-year-old man from behind and pushed him onto the tracks before running away.
Both Rodriguez and the 83-year-old man were taken to the hospital. Rodriguez was said to be stable, but the 83-year-old man, who is an Air Force veteran, remains in critical condition.
The Air Force veteran's family told the news outlet he and his wife have been married for 55 years, and that he has three daughters and two granddaughters.
Rodriguez told the news outlet on Monday that he was on his way to work when the man shoved him without provocation.
"I panicked, I started asking for help, not only for me but for the other man that was pushed," Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez started recording as a bystander tried to help him.
New York Police officers flooded the subway station and boarded trains to search for the suspect.
Rodriguez said he is recovering from an injured shoulder and neck.
Hernandez has no prior record in New York, police said.
The NYPD said that there have been nine subway pushes so far this year, which is up from three by this time last year.