Teen Arrested for Stabbing in Manhattan Subway

A teenager has been arrested following a brutal attack on a 29-year-old woman in Manhattan last week. The victim was reportedly stabbed by a masked individual who demanded her bag and nearly took her life in the process.

Brandon Balfour, 18, faces serious charges including second-degree attempted murder, assault, and robbery. This incident took place around 11:10 PM on Wednesday, during a violent robbery on three northbound trains, according to authorities.

Witness accounts suggest the victim, who is nonverbal and communicated through writing, felt something was off about the situation before Balfour approached her. When she tried to exit the train, Balfour allegedly followed her, demanding her bag and then stabbing her.

According to court documents, when she refused to hand over her belongings and called for help, he brandished a 14 to 16-inch knife and attacked her. The victim sustained significant injuries, with reports indicating substantial blood loss.

Balfour reportedly took the woman’s cell phone before fleeing the scene, leaving her on the ground bleeding and in need of assistance. She was later transported to Bellevue Hospital where she underwent extensive surgery due to her injuries.

Authorities apprehended Balfour on Friday at a shelter in Queens. During his arrest, officers reportedly found a yellow mask and the woman’s blood-covered cell phone.

The teenager was taken into custody without bail after prosecutors argued for his remand during a hearing at Manhattan Crown Court. He is scheduled to appear in court again on Thursday.