A New York City subway rider who pulled a gun on a fellow commuter with whom he was arguing on a packed rush-hour train Thursday is in critical condition after being shot in the head when the other man managed to wrestle the weapon away from him and opened fire, police.
The wounded man, 36, was described by police as the "aggressor" in the altercation. He has not yet been identified and was undergoing surgery at a local hospital. The incident occurred on an A train traveling northbound in Brooklyn at approximately 4:45 p.m. as it pulled into the Hoyt-Schermerhorn station.
Man Shot in Head During Busy NYC Subway
Michael Kemper, the chief of transit for the NYPD, informed reporters during a news conference that the alleged shooter was cooperating with detectives. Law enforcement sources said multiple 911 calls were made around 5 pm reporting a man who had been shot in the head.
Starting as a verbal argument between the two men, things quickly escalated and the 36-year-old flashed at first what appeared to be a knife and then pulled out the gun, Kemper told reporters.
Witnesses described the actions of the 36-year-old as confrontational and inciting towards the 32-year-old man who ultimately fired the weapon, according to WABC-TV.
The 36-year-old began to approach the 32-year-old with the firearm, leading to a scuffle and struggle for the weapon.
Amidst the intense confrontation, the 32-year-old managed to take the firearm from the 36-year-old and fired several shots as passengers on the packed subway car hot the floor to protect themselves. The alleged aggressor was struck once in the head.
When the train arrived at the Hoyt-Schermerhorn station, officers stationed there responded to the sound of gunshots and apprehended the shooter, who was arrested on the scene.
Video obtained by ABC-7 Eyewitness News captured the alarming scene as subway passengers quickly took cover following the sound of gunfire. The victim was taken to NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital in critical condition.
New York Subway Security Measures
Following a series of known crimes in the New York City subway, Mayor Eric Adams is sharing his thoughts on Gov. Kathy Hochul's strategy to enhance safety within the system.
After one week, the deployments continue without any signs of slowing down. A large number of police officers are currently deployed throughout the New York City transit system, ensuring security and maintaining a visible presence in both the platforms and the trains.
In addition, numerous MTA police and state troopers, accompanied by National Guard troops, are carrying out random bag checks. They are stationed there based on directives from Hochul.During an interview on Thursday, Adams expressed his gratitude for the support that was provided, while acknowledging that the responsibility primarily lies with the NYPD.
There has been an increasing sense of discomfort in the community following a string of high-profile criminal incidents. The governor authorized the deployment of soldiers in response to the city's denied request for additional funding for the NYPD's overtime.
It is still too early to determine the effectiveness of these recent deployments. However, the overall trend in transit crime has been decreasing.
