Machete Attack at Grand Central Terminal Leads to Fatal Police Shooting

A police officer is under scrutiny following an incident on a subway platform at Grand Central Terminal, where three individuals were attacked with a machete. The confrontation resulted in the officer fatally shooting a suspect who referred to himself as “Lucifer,” according to the New York City Police Department (NYPD).

Commissioner Jessica Tisch mentioned at a Saturday news conference that the officer shot and killed Anthony Griffin, 44, after he ignored over 20 commands to drop the weapon and approached officers with the machete.

The police responded to a 911 call reporting an assault at around 9:40 a.m. Upon arrival, they discovered Griffin wielding the machete. Tisch noted that Griffin repeatedly identified himself as Lucifer during the altercation.

After refusing to relinquish the knife, an officer discharged his weapon, hitting Griffin twice. He was later transported to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Authorities indicated that Griffin had three prior arrests but no documented history of mental health issues. In the attack, three victims were injured: an 84-year-old man, a 70-year-old woman, and a 64-year-old man, all of whom were hospitalized and reported to be in stable condition.

Specifically, the 84-year-old man suffered cuts to his face and head, while the 64-year-old man sustained similar injuries along with an open skull fracture. The 70-year-old man had a laceration on his shoulder. Additionally, two officers received treatment for minor injuries.

Ms. Tisch emphasized the bravery of the responding officers and highlighted the overall risks posed by violent crime. She acknowledged that acts of violence can instill fear in anyone and stressed the importance of maintaining police presence in the transit system. Last month, the NYPD increased its officer deployments, adding 175 officers to the transit system.

Consequently, trains 4, 5, 6, and 7 will not be stopping at the 42nd Street station during the ongoing investigation, as reported by the Metro Transit Authority (MTA).

New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressed her dismay on social media, labeling the stabbings as “senseless acts of violence” and commending the quick actions of law enforcement to neutralize the threat. She mentioned that the Albany city officials would coordinate closely with the NYPD in the investigation.