A man has been charged in a shocking subway attack where he allegedly slashed a victim’s throat. Prosecutors shared in court that the suspect, Lewis Partisaka, 21, claimed he couldn’t recall specifics about the violent incident.
During the horrifying attack on a Sunday night, Partisaka reportedly told police he saw himself laughing in the surveillance footage but wasn’t entirely sure whether he had stabbed Robert Gaspar, a 25-year-old who works in a restaurant.
“Yes, that’s me [in the video],” he stated while appearing in Queens Crown Court, according to Assistant District Attorney Samuel Peregrino.
Partisaka mentioned, “I was wearing that shirt yesterday,” but added, “I don’t think I stabbed him. I just scared him and left. I scared the person next to me.”
He continued with uncertainty: “I don’t know if I stabbed him or not. I thought I had already scared him with a knife, but I can’t be sure.”
However, prosecutors presented footage indicating that Partisaka approached the victim on a seven-train, slashed his throat, and then stabbed him several times without uttering a word.
Gaspar had just boarded the train at Metzwillets Point Station around 11:30 PM after finishing work when the attack occurred.
His friends reported that he was in critical condition and on a breathing tube in the hospital.
Partisaka, who has a history of assault and theft cases, fled after the attack, according to prosecutors. An NYPD officer recognized him as a suspect in a previous case, leading to his arrest at home.
Prosecutor Peregrino informed Judge Lana Schlessinger that the defendant had faced multiple arrests over the past few weeks, including the current charges of attempted murder and assault.
Due to his injuries, Gaspard reportedly cannot speak and can only communicate by writing or nodding following his surgery.
Peregrino requested that Partisaka be held without bail, while the defense pushed for a $100,000 bail. Ultimately, Judge Schlessinger set the bail amount at $500,000 in cash, which includes charges of attempted murder and possession of a weapon.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz expressed concerns about subway safety, stating, “Our subway system is not a battlefield. It’s a lifeline for many. My office will utilize every available resource to prosecute those who compromise the safety of countless riders.”
