Firefighter Arrested After Cane Attack in Times Square
A 32-year-old FDNY firefighter, Lexiano Harris, was taken into custody early Tuesday after allegedly attacking a 51-year-old man with his cane near Times Square. The incident reportedly occurred around 3:30 a.m. at the intersection of 42nd Avenue and 8th Avenue.
Harris faces multiple charges, including assault, criminal possession of a weapon, and possession of a controlled substance, according to authorities.
This incident came to light just hours after yet another confrontation in the area. Early Monday, a 30-year-old man was slashed in the face at around 4 a.m. on 47th Avenue and 7th Avenue. He was hospitalized at Bellevue Hospital but refused to cooperate with the police or share details about the attack.
Details about the suspect in the Monday incident remain uncertain, as no identity has been released and no motive has been established.
For Harris, this marks his fourth arrest within a three-month time frame. He had previously been arrested on August 16 in two separate incidents—one involving an altercation with a 54-year-old man, where he allegedly punched the victim multiple times on 8th Avenue, and another where he was involved in a fight on West 39th Avenue with a 31-year-old man.
The FDNY acknowledged his repeated offenses in a statement, emphasizing that he is currently suspended without pay and will face additional disciplinary measures depending on the outcome in court.
Interestingly, while the frequency of felony attacks in the NYPD’s Midtown Southern School District—including Times Square—has soared by nearly 400%, overall felony crimes in the precinct have reportedly decreased by almost 10% this year.
Visitors in Times Square expressed mixed feelings about safety. Miri Montra, a tourist from London, mentioned feeling generally secure but hesitated when considering public transportation. She shared that her experience in Times Square felt safe due to the friendliness of the people around. In contrast, Karina Jones, a midwestern visitor on a work trip, felt “good” during the day but uneasy about navigating the city alone at night.
In a separate incident early Tuesday, two men, aged 40 and 43, were involved in a fight on a southbound No. 4 train near Union Square Station, resulting in injuries to both. One suffered cuts to the neck, stomach, and right arm, while the other had an injury to his left leg. Both were stabilized at Bellevue Hospital and charged with assault and possession of a weapon.
This recent wave of violence raises concerns in an area that has witnessed similar incidents, including a stabbing of a 23-year-old victim who was attacked as he disembarked a Bronx bus on September 2nd. Though authorities have released a suspect’s description from this earlier attack, they encourage anyone with information to reach out to the NYPD Crime Stoppers Hotline.
