Brutal Subway Attack in Brooklyn
New York City authorities report that a 25-year-old man has confessed to fatally beating another man inside a Brooklyn subway station, according to ABC News.
It was just after 3 PM on Tuesday when police were called to the Jay Street station following reports of an incident. Officers arrived to find an unidentified male unconscious and unresponsive, suffering from severe injuries.
Paramedics rushed the victim, identified later as 64-year-old Nicola Tanzi, to NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital in critical condition, where he was subsequently pronounced dead.
The suspect, David Mazariegos, allegedly disclosed during his interrogation that he attacked Tanzi because he didn’t appreciate the way the victim looked at him. Tanzi reportedly sustained a skull fracture from the assault.
Mazariegos was apprehended late Tuesday night after an NYPD officer spotted him sitting on the sidewalk in Times Square. A sword with a blade longer than 20 inches was found in his lap at the time of his arrest, and he had four of the victim’s credit cards, one of which he allegedly used for shopping that same evening.
Authorities revealed that Mazariegos had a lengthy criminal history, with 17 previous arrests for offenses such as assault and petty theft.
Detectives are also examining similarities between Tanzi’s murder and a recent incident involving the death of a store employee who confronted a shoplifter.
According to police, the altercation began when Mazariegos lunged at the exit gate of the Jay Street Metrotech station, prompting a brief exchange with Tanzi. After which, he punched Tanzi, knocking him down. Surveillance footage showed Mazariegos delivering multiple blows to Tanzi’s head while he was on the ground before fleeing on a subway train.
In memory of Tanzi, a candle was lit at the scene, where many remembered him as a dedicated security guard.
Police Chief Jessica Tisch noted that the department’s alert system quickly circulated Mazariegos’s photo and description, helping the officer in Times Square recognize and apprehend him swiftly.
