A man from New York, accused of attacking a train passenger by cutting his throat and stabbing him multiple times in the back, has been arrested three times. He reportedly told detectives that he doesn’t remember harming anyone.
According to the NYPD, 21-year-old Luis Pallchisaca is alleged to have assaulted commuter Roberto Gaspar without any prior warning on a recent Sunday evening.
In court on Thursday, a Queens aide informed the judge that Pallchisaca acknowledged during questioning that he had been photographed at the scene. He claimed he was wearing the same shirt, yet denied having any memory of the attack.
He reportedly stated, “I remember, but I don’t think I stabbed him. I just scared him and left. I scared the person next to me.” This incident occurred at Mets Willett Point Station, a stop that serves Citifield and the surrounding areas. Gaspar was on his way home from work when he was attacked and was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Authorities shared that due to a larynx injury, Gaspar is currently on a breathing tube and unable to eat, remaining in serious condition as of Thursday.
This attack draws grim parallels to a previous murder case where a worker was similarly attacked without warning on a commuter train. In both instances, the perpetrators had prior issues with the law but were free at the time of their respective attacks.
Pallchisaca reportedly had ongoing cases related to assault and theft, with three arrests in the month leading up to this incident. New York City has been grappling with a rise in violent crime, and current mayor Eric Adams is facing challenges in addressing these issues amid criticism from various political factions.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz stated that Pallchisaca faces serious charges, including attempted murder and assault. She remarked, “As allegedly, the defendant mercilessly stabbed the victim in an unprovoked attack, causing life-threatening injuries. Our subway system is not a battlefield; it’s a lifeline for many people.”
