A 45-year-old man was pushed onto subway tracks at the 18th Street station in Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon, leaving him in critical condition after being struck by an oncoming 1 train. Police have described the attack as random and have arrested a suspect in connection with the incident.
The attack occurred shortly after 1:30 p.m. when the victim was standing near the edge of the train platform. Surveillance footage captured the chilling moment a hooded suspect approached the man from behind and shoved him onto the tracks. Moments later, the victim was struck by an incoming train and disappeared beneath it.
JUST IN: The 23-year-old suspect has been identified as, Kamel Hawkins, and is now charged with attempted murder after pushing a random man in front of a moving train in Manhattan.
Police say the 45-year-old victim is expected to survive and only suffered a head injury. https://t.co/aoytjBIN3R
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Emergency responders quickly transported the victim to a local hospital, where he remains in critical but stable condition. According to law enforcement sources, the man suffered significant head and rib injuries.
Police apprehended a 23-year-old man shortly after the attack. While charges have not yet been filed, officials revealed the suspect has a history of prior arrests for assault and harassment.
The motive for the attack remains unclear, but investigators have labeled the incident as unprovoked.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns about safety within the New York City subway system. Random attacks on transit riders have fueled public anxiety, prompting calls for enhanced security measures and mental health support.
The subway system, used by millions of commuters daily, has been the site of several high-profile violent incidents in recent months.
The attack comes on the heels of another subway-related tragedy that made headlines this week. Authorities identified the victim of a separate incident: 57-year-old Debrina Kawam of New Jersey. Kawam was allegedly set on fire and killed aboard an F train in Brooklyn’s Coney Island neighborhood earlier this month.
Sebastian Zapeta, a 33-year-old Guatemalan immigrant, has been indicted for Kawam’s murder. Authorities revealed that Kawam’s horrific death was captured on video, showing the suspect setting her on fire and watching as she burned. Zapeta, who had previously been deported, returned to the U.S. illegally before allegedly committing the crime.
These back-to-back subway incidents have reignited debates around public safety, mental health resources, and the need for stricter law enforcement presence within the transit system.
As investigations into both cases continue, city officials and transit authorities are under mounting pressure to address the safety concerns of New York City commuters.
The NYPD urges anyone with information about the 18th Street attack or other subway-related crimes to come forward. Meanwhile, the victim remains hospitalized as the city grapples with the alarming surge in violent incidents on public transit.
