A man, accused of fatally attacking a 64-year-old at a Brooklyn subway station last week, had been involved in a taxpayer-funded art program where his works included disturbing images of police violence. David Mazariegos was arrested less than a day after the incident involving Nicola Tanzi, which took place on October 8 at Jay St. Metrotech station.
Reports indicate that Mazariegos created artwork online that portrayed violent acts against historical figures and police officers, including depictions of beheadings and offensive symbols like a modified Burger King logo stating “Murder King.”
While attending two taxpayer-supported art therapy programs daily, Mazariegos interned under art director Anthony DeJesus at the Harlem-based Youth Justice Network, where he had been commissioned to create a mural. He also participated in a program aimed at mentoring high school students.
His social media features a video where he is seen wielding nunchaku on a subway platform. Despite the disturbing nature of much of his art, he had been designated a certified mentor for students.
After being taken into custody earlier in July for unrelated assault charges, Mazariegos’ lawyer highlighted his involvement in the arts program as a factor in seeking lower bail. A judge expressed serious concerns about releasing him due to the nature of the case.
However, the lawyer maintained that Mazariegos was committed to his internship and attending art classes regularly, omitting the violent aspects of his artwork from her arguments.
Mazariegos was eventually released on a $1,000 bail, days before the fatal incident occurred.
The Youth Justice Network aims to prevent young people from being incarcerated, yet its approach appears to have included individuals with varied skill levels, according to former participants.
People who were involved with the network expressed shock over the tragedy and conveyed condolences to Tanzi’s family, although the spokesperson misstated the victim’s name.
Following his release, Mazariegos continued to exhibit troubling behavior, including a disturbing incident where he jumped on a car and destroyed a windshield while shouting about government fears—a line that echoes themes found in his art.
Before this, he was arrested for attempting to set fire to a church, stating his disdain for institutions like churches and police. His life had taken a downward turn, leading him to be homeless and sell his art on the streets.
After the altercation with Tanzi, Mazariegos reportedly told police he disliked Tanzi’s “view of himself.” He is alleged to have attacked Tanzi repeatedly until he was no longer alive.
Notably, Tanzi had a remarkable history, having survived both the 1993 bombing and the September 11 attacks at the World Trade Center. The prosecution indicated that during the arrest, Mazariegos confessed to beating him and “taking his soul.” He remains in custody without bail, awaiting further proceedings.
