BRONX: A Bronx subway station became the scene of yet another violent attack Thursday morning, marking the third stabbing in the NYC subway system in just over 24 hours. At 6:30 a.m., an MTA cleaner was stabbed twice during a verbal altercation at the Pelham Parkway 5 train station. The victim was rushed to Jacobi Hospital in stable condition, while the suspect remains at large.
String of Subway Stabbings
The surge in violence began on New Year’s Day, with two stabbings reported. At the 110th Street 1 train station, an argument escalated when one man attacked another with a knife, leaving the victim hospitalized with head and body wounds. Hours later, a 31-year-old man was stabbed in the back on a 2 train near 14th Street. No arrests have been made in either case.
Failed Security Measures
Despite Gov. Kathy Hochul’s December announcement of 1,000 National Guard troops to bolster transit security, these incidents underscore the growing dangers of New York’s subway system. Hochul’s claims of a 10% drop in subway crime and the rollout of new security cameras ring hollow as commuters face unrelenting violence.
Recent High-Profile Attacks
The attacks follow other high-profile subway crimes, including the brutal New Year’s Eve assault where Kamel Hawkins pushed a man onto the tracks at Chelsea’s 18th Street station, leaving the victim with severe injuries. Hawkins is being held without bail on attempted murder charges.
In another chilling case, illegal immigrant Sebastian Zapeta was arrested for setting 57-year-old Debrina Kawam on fire in a subway car, resulting in her death. Zapeta faces murder and arson charges.
Safety vs. Ridership
While MTA officials tout rising ridership and expanded mental health outreach, these measures appear insufficient against the surge of violent incidents. Commuters are left questioning whether New York’s leaders can provide genuine safety in a transit system plagued by crime.
