A man accused of fatally attacking a well-liked security guard at a subway station in Brooklyn has been deemed mentally unfit to face trial, as heard in court on Friday.
David Mazariegos, 25, underwent a mental health evaluation and was subsequently admitted to a psychiatric facility following the alleged brutal murder of 64-year-old Nicola Tanzi on October 7, 2025.
During the hearing, Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Dineen Riviezzo expressed well wishes to Mazariegos, who, as a struggling artist with a growing criminal record prior to the incident, has now been declared “unfit” for trial.
“We’ll see you again when you’re in a better condition. Good luck with your treatment,” the judge said briefly before Mazariegos was handed over to mental health professionals.
Mazariegos, appearing calm and somewhat drowsy in an orange prison jumpsuit, is facing first-degree murder charges if found mentally competent in the future.
According to prosecutors, Mazariegos struck Tanzi in the face at the security gate of the Jay Street MetroTech station, where she had devoted 15 years to her job as a security guard.
After the initial punch, he allegedly stomped on her repeatedly, leaving her “completely limp” with severe injuries, including a fractured skull and a shattered nose, prosecutors stated.
Tanzi, a devout Catholic, unfortunately passed away hours later.
Authorities report that Mazariegos stole the victim’s debit and credit cards to buy a Japanese sword, which police later recovered when they apprehended him in Times Square.
After his arraignment, Mazariegos, sporting a wide grin, reportedly admitted to assaulting, robbing, and, as he put it, “depriving his victims of their spirits,” according to prosecutors.
His lawyer, Tzuyu Wasserstein, chose not to comment following Friday’s proceedings.
