New York City police shot and killed a man Saturday morning after he allegedly launched a machete attack on three commuters at Grand Central station, leaving several people injured and causing significant disruptions to one of the city’s busiest transit hubs.
The suspect, identified by officials as 44-year-old Anthony Griffin, was pronounced dead at Bellevue Hospital after being shot twice by an officer. The incident, which unfolded across multiple platforms in midtown Manhattan, began as a series of random attacks before ending in a tense standoff with the New York Police Department (NYPD).
According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the New York subway machete attack was captured in its entirety on body-worn cameras. Police say the confrontation ended only after the suspect defied numerous orders to surrender his weapon and advanced toward officers.
A Sequence of Violence at Grand Central
The violence began shortly before 9:40 a.m. On Saturday. Surveillance footage indicates that Anthony Griffin entered the subway system via Queens before arriving at the Grand Central complex. His first target was an 84-year-old man, whom he slashed in the head while on the 7 train subway platform at East 42nd Street and Park Avenue.
Following the initial assault, Griffin moved upstairs to the platforms serving the 4, 5, and 6 subway lines. There, he attacked two more people: a 65-year-old man, who suffered a fractured skull, and a woman, who was slashed in the shoulder. All three victims were transported to local hospitals and are currently listed in stable condition. Commissioner Tisch noted that their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
| Victim | Location | Injury | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 84-year-old male | 7 Train Platform | Head slash | Stable |
| 65-year-old male | 4, 5, 6 Platform | Skull fracture | Stable |
| Female | 4, 5, 6 Platform | Shoulder slash | Stable |
The Police Confrontation and Fatal Shooting
The NYPD was alerted to the situation when a witness flagged down officers at approximately 9:40 a.m. Upon encountering Griffin, officers found him armed with a machete. Commissioner Tisch reported that officers attempted to de-escalate the situation, issuing at least 20 verbal orders for the suspect to drop the weapon.
During the standoff, Griffin repeatedly claimed that he was “Lucifer.” Officers reportedly attempted to offer assistance, telling the suspect, “we are going to get you assist.” However, the situation turned fatal when Griffin approached the officers with the machete, prompting one officer to fire two shots.
Medical personnel provided emergency aid on-site before Griffin was transported to Bellevue Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The NYPD shared a photograph of the recovered machete on social media to document the weapon used in the attacks.
The Mayor’s office confirmed that the administration had been briefed on the incident via social media.
Public Safety and the ‘EDP’ Designation
The attack has reignited discussions regarding transit safety and the handling of individuals experiencing mental health crises in the subway system. In the wake of the shooting, Commissioner Tisch addressed the suspect’s history, noting that while Griffin had three prior arrests, he had no “EDP history.”
EDP is the shorthand used by the NYPD for “emotionally disturbed person,” a designation applied to reports involving individuals who may be experiencing a psychiatric crisis. The absence of this history suggests that Griffin had not previously been flagged by the department as a person requiring specialized psychiatric intervention, despite the delusional claims he made during the standoff.
The incident caused immediate chaos for commuters, with several subway trains bypassing Grand Central station for an extended period while police cleared the scene and investigators processed the platforms. The use of body-worn cameras is expected to play a central role in the internal review of the shooting, as is standard procedure for all NYPD officer-involved fatalities.
For those affected by the event or experiencing a mental health crisis, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7, free, and confidential support.
The NYPD continues to investigate the motive behind the attacks. The next official update is expected following the completion of the body-camera footage review and the results of the medical examiner’s report.
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