In New York on Saturday morning, police shot and killed a man who was wielding a knife on the subway platform at Grand Central Station. The subject, who was identified by police as 44-year-old Anthony Griffen, boarded the 7 train Saturday morning, arriving a short time later at Grand Central, where he stabbed an elderly man on the train, and then moved to the 4/5/6 platform, where he slashed two more victims.
Officers were called to the scene shortly after 9:30 am. NYPD detectives working an overtime transit detail encountered one of the victims walking up the steps as they responded, according to police.
Griffen was acting erratically and stating that he was “Lucifer.” The police commissioner said Saturday. The detectives ordered Griffen to drop the large knife before he advanced towards them, and one of the detectives shot him twice. They performed CPR on the suspect before he was transported to Bellevue Hospital and pronounced dead.
The three victims, ages 65, 70, and 84, were stabbed before the officer’s arrival. They were transported to local hospitals. The 65-year-old man suffered an open skull fracture, a severe head injury putting the brain at a high risk of injury or infection.
The three victims didn’t appear to know each other, and they had chance encounters with the suspect, who was set on causing severe harm to people who were simply taking the train. Two police officers were also taken to the hospital following the incident.
Authorities have since recovered the weapon used by the suspect at the scene. Griffen has three priors in New York City, according to the commissioner. The slashing wounds are severe, but the victims are stable in the hospital, according to the police. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he had been briefed on the incident.
“I am grateful to the NYPD for their quick response and for preventing additional violence. The three victims were taken to the hospital and are in stable condition, thankfully. The NYPD will release body-worn camera footage.”
