Hoyt-Schermerhorn flooded with police – NBC New York

An unarmed subway passenger He shot a puncher who started a fight after boarding a train in Brooklyn. at the start of the afternoon avalanche a day ago, investigators said Friday, citing newly obtained evidence that they say informed the narrative.

According to investigators, a 36-year-old man walked through an emergency exit on Nostrand Avenue without paying and boarded an A train around 4:30 p.m. About 10 minutes later, that man began an argument with a 32-year-old passenger. . , and he pulled out a gun after being stabbed by a woman who was apparently traveling with the 32-year-old man.

The 32-year-old grabbed the gun and fired four times as the train approached the Hoyt-Schermerhorn stop, sending terrified travelers to the ground and wounding the man. The last thing that was said was that he was in critical condition.

Charges are pending against the 32-year-old man. Investigators are weighing whether to file charges against the woman seen on video stabbing the 36-year-old batterer. She is not in custody at this time.

Investigators describe the 36-year-old man who was shot as the apparent assailant.

“The small group of people that we found that don’t pay their fee are repeat offenders. They have guns, they have knives. Small things lead to big things,” said NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry. “We need to look at new technology that we can implement here in the transit system to help keep New Yorkers safe.”

Cameras are expected to be on all subway trains by the end of the year, officials said. It is unclear whether stricter measures such as metal detectors could be considered.

“When you lay out the evidence and the facts that someone walked into a train station with a gun and you saw a pretty packed train where people were lying on top of each other, scared because someone pulled out a gun… I’m not sure if either for or against metal detectors, but that’s what we saw,” said New York Police Department Chief Jeffrey Maddrey.

The violence, which came a week after Gov. Kathy Hochul flooded the transit system with 750 National Guard troops and other law enforcement personnel in an attempt to curb crime, sent commuters fleeing the subway car as soon as the doors opened at Hoyt-Schermerhorn. season. Police were able to make an immediate arrest as people ran.

There is body camera footage, authorities said. It is not published at this time.

Police are searching for a man who allegedly threw a fire canister at a group of people on a subway platform in Manhattan last month, authorities said Wednesday. Checkey Beckford Reports.

Violence in the subway is rare, as serious crimes decreased nearly 3% from 2022 to 2023 and murders decreased from 10 to five during the same period, according to police. But serious incidents have drawn attention, such as the cutting of a passenger in a subway driver in the neck last month. Three recent homicides also made headlines.

The appearance of all this is part of the reason Hochul flooded the transit system with more armed personnel. It’s not enough to tell people that there are police officers at police stations or that security measures, such as newly implemented baggage checks, are being implemented, he says: people need to see them to feel safe.

MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber acknowledged the perception factor at a news conference Friday.

“Traffic crimes account for 2% of crimes in New York City, but they have a huge disproportionate impact on people’s sense of safety because they are in an environment where they can’t move as easily,” Lieber said. “We’re going to continue to work with the NYPD… and all the uniformed forces that are in the system to make sure that we get the greatest crime prevention and deterrence… and real results in numbers.”

The shooting occurred at a stop where the NYPD has a small office and there were officers on the platform.

Video posted by a passenger shows the minutes before the shooting. A man walks through the crowded car and threatens to hit a seated man. They fight until someone breaks them up. But the screams continue and a man pulls what appears to be a gun from his jacket. “Stop! Stop!” the passengers shout.

The video does not show the actual shooting, although several loud bangs can be heard above the commotion of passengers. Passengers run out when the doors open.

NYPD Traffic Chief Michael Kemper said at an earlier news conference Friday that the newly obtained video is key to the investigation as it potentially changes the narrative.

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“That speaks to the value of video that we talk about all the time,” Kemper said. “And the value it gives our investigators to capture exactly what happened on that train. You can never have too many witnesses.”

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.