Grand Central Subway Attack Leads to Fatal Police Shooting
On Saturday morning, a man wielding a machete attacked three elderly individuals on a subway platform at Grand Central before being shot by police. The suspect, identified as 44-year-old Anthony Griffin, boarded the No. 7 train at Vernon Boulevard Station in Queens around 9:30 a.m. He then rode to Grand Central, where he assaulted an 84-year-old man on the platform. Following this, he moved to the northbound platforms 4, 5, and 6 on the second floor, slashing two more victims—a 65-year-old man and a 70-year-old woman.
The oldest victim incurred severe cuts to his head and face. The 65-year-old man also sustained serious injuries, described as an open skull fracture along with similar wounds, while the woman had a cut on her shoulder. All three were subsequently transported to Bellevue Hospital and reported to be in stable condition.
A bystander notified two NYPD detectives who were present for an unrelated traffic investigation inside the station. According to reports, officers spotted one of the victims trying to climb the stairs and found Griffin still brandishing the machete on the platform below.
Police Chief Jessica Tisch informed the press that Griffin displayed erratic behavior and frequently referred to himself as Lucifer. Officers issued commands for him to drop the weapon more than 20 times and even offered their assistance. However, he declined their help and advanced toward the detectives with the machete raised. Eventually, one officer discharged his weapon, striking Griffin, who was later pronounced dead at Bellevue Hospital.
Records indicate that Griffin had been arrested three times previously in New York City, and sources mentioned over a dozen charges linked to his past, including threats involving sharp objects.
Mayor Zoran Mamdani expressed gratitude for the police’s swift actions that helped prevent further violence. “I am thankful to the NYPD for their quick response,” he stated.
Tisch mentioned that this incident underscored the department’s recent decision to deploy an additional 175 officers to subway patrols. Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul is advocating for a $77 million allocation in the 2027 executive budget aimed at enhancing police presence in the transit system. Notably, NYPD data indicated that overall traffic crime had dropped to its lowest level since 2009.
