A violent spree at one of New York City’s busiest transit hubs ended Saturday morning after police shot and killed a man who had attacked three commuters with a machete. The suspect, identified by authorities as 44-year-old Anthony Griffin, was reportedly shouting “Lucifer” during the attacks at Grand Central Station, according to the NYPD.
The incident, which unfolded just before 10 a.m., left three people wounded across two different subway platforms. The victims—an 84-year-old man, a 65-year-old man, and a 70-year-old woman—were transported to nearby hospitals and are currently in stable condition, police said.
The confrontation ended when responding officers confronted Griffin on the 4/5/6 train platform. After the suspect ignored multiple commands to drop his weapon and advanced toward them, one officer opened fire. Griffin was transported to Bellevue Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
A Sequence of Violence Across Platforms
According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the violence began when Anthony Griffin boarded a 7 train in Queens, which brought him into the heart of Manhattan. Upon exiting the train at the Grand Central platform, Griffin attacked an 84-year-old man, inflicting significant lacerations to the victim’s head, and face.
The assault did not end there. Griffin moved upstairs to the 4/5/6 train platform, where he targeted two more individuals: a 65-year-old man and a 70-year-old woman. The randomness of the attacks and the suspect’s erratic behavior created a scene of chaos in the transit hub during the Saturday morning commute.
The police response was triggered after a witness flagged down two officers on the street. Those officers immediately entered the station and rushed to the 4/5/6 platform to intercept the armed man. Commissioner Tisch stated that the officers made multiple commands for Griffin to drop the machete before he advanced toward them, prompting the fatal discharge of a firearm.
Official Response and Transit Disruptions
In the immediate aftermath, Mayor Zohran Mamdani praised the speed of the police intervention. “I’m grateful to the NYPD for their quick response and for preventing additional violence,” Mamdani said in a social media post, adding that the three victims are thankfully in stable condition.
The shooting triggered a significant disruption to the city’s transit infrastructure. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced that the 4, 5, and 6 subway lines would skip the Grand Central-42 Street stop in both directions to allow the NYPD to process the crime scene. The 5 train experienced delays in both directions as the investigation continued.
| Time/Location | Event |
|---|---|
| Queens / 7 Train | Anthony Griffin boards train toward Manhattan |
| Grand Central Platform | 84-year-old man attacked with machete |
| 4/5/6 Platform | 65-year-old man and 70-year-old woman attacked |
| 4/5/6 Platform | NYPD officers confront suspect; suspect shot and killed |
Investigation and Legal Protocol
The NYPD has launched an internal investigation into the shooting, a standard procedure for any incident involving the discharge of an officer’s firearm. Commissioner Tisch confirmed that body-worn camera footage will be released to the public as part of this transparency process.
Details regarding Griffin’s history emerged during the initial probe; police noted that the 44-year-old had three prior arrests. However, officials have not yet provided specifics on the nature of those previous encounters or whether they were related to the erratic behavior displayed on Saturday.
The use of a machete in a crowded public space has raised renewed concerns regarding transit safety and the unpredictability of violent outbursts in the subway system. Whereas the quick response of the officers likely prevented further casualties, the event underscores the volatility of the city’s most congested transit points.
For those affected by the trauma of this event or struggling with mental health crises, support is available through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, providing 24/7, free, and confidential support.
The investigation remains active, with detectives reviewing surveillance footage from the 7 train and both platforms to determine if there were any other interactions prior to the first attack. The next confirmed step in the process will be the release of the body-camera footage and the formal report from the NYPD’s internal affairs bureau regarding the use of force.
Do you have information regarding this incident or a similar experience in the transit system? We invite you to share your thoughts and comments below.
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