Two elderly victims who were brutally attacked with a machete at Grand Central Station by a man who identified himself as “Lucifer” are holding the city accountable for their injuries, claiming that police were absent during the incident.
Leila Sumulong, 70, and Jose Fermin, 84, were among the three people assaulted by Anthony Griffin at the 42nd Street-Grand Central subway station on April 11, prior to Griffin being fatally shot by officers.
The assault began after Griffin exited the 7 Train and moved to the 4/5/6 platform, where Sumulong was slashed on her back and Fermin on his head, resulting in both suffering from PTSD and a deep fear of using the subway again, according to documents filed in court.
A third victim, a 65-year-old man, also endured serious injuries, including severe cuts to his head and a skull fracture. Reports indicate that all three attacks occurred within a span of just 60 seconds.
Joseph Napoli, the attorney representing Fermin and Sumulong, expressed his concerns to the Post, stating, “This is a classic case of lack of security at a major station in the city of New York.”
He further questioned, “How could the police officers assigned to this station, with all their resources, not notice ‘Lucifer’ moving around the platform with a machete?”
Hopeful for legal recourse, Sumulong and Fermin are seeking a Manhattan Supreme Court judge’s approval to file a late notice of claim against the city—an initial step toward a lawsuit—after inadvertently missing the usual 90-day deadline.
Their petition claims that, despite the obvious attack, they found themselves searching for NYPD officers on the platform and only located them after heading up the stairs to the general concourse area.
The assaults occurred at 9:39 a.m., as reported by police. A minute later, officers were heard demanding that Griffin drop his roughly 17-inch machete over two dozen times, a tense moment captured in body camera footage released in May.
When Griffin refused and implored, “Shoot me, please!” he ran away, before, chillingly, declaring, “I am Lucifer” twice as he approached one of the officers, leading to the officer firing two rounds, as seen in the footage.
The proposal for the claim asserts that the city and its agencies bear responsibility for the attacks due to inadequate intervention to stop the assailant and the failure of police to ensure safety on the subway platforms.
Legal action is planned against the city, the NYPD, and the MTA, among others.
An NYPD spokesperson referred to comments made by Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch at the time of the incident: “Our officers were confronted with an armed individual who had already injured multiple people and continued to pose a threat. They gave clear commands, attempted to de-escalate, and when that threat did not stop, they took decisive action to stop it and protect New Yorkers on one of the busiest train platforms in the city. Incidents like this illustrate the reality of this work.”
City Hall and the MTA have not responded to requests for comments. Meanwhile, Fermin, Sumulong, and their legal representation have opted not to comment further. Their law firm, Napoli Shkolnik PLLC, stated, “At this time, their focus is on their recovery, and they are not providing interviews, comments, or statements regarding the matter.”
