New York City police officers shot and killed a machete-wielding suspect who stabbed three elderly victims on a crowded subway platform at Grand Central Station Saturday morning, ending a violent rampage at one of the nation's busiest transit hubs. The suspect, identified by the Associated Press as Anthony Griffin, 44, died at Bellevue Hospital after officers opened fire when he refused repeated commands to drop his weapon.
The Attack and Police Response
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said officers responding to a 9:40 a.m. emergency call encountered Griffin behaving erratically and claiming he was "Lucifer." Despite being ordered to drop his weapon 20 times, Griffin refused to comply, prompting an officer to shoot him twice. "Our officers were confronted with an armed individual who had already injured multiple people and was continuing to pose a threat," Tisch said at an afternoon news conference. "They gave clear commands. They attempted to de-escalate. And when that threat did not stop, they took decisive action to stop it and to protect New Yorkers on one of the busiest train platforms in the city."
According to CNN, the violence erupted around 9:50 a.m. ET on a platform beneath Grand Central. The suspect had been on a subway train acting erratically before moving onto the platform carrying a machete. When ordered to drop the weapon, he lunged at officers, who opened fire.
The Victims
The three stabbing victims were an 84-year-old man, a 65-year-old man, and a 70-year-old woman, according to the AP. One man sustained significant lacerations to the head and face, the other man had similar injuries and an open skull fracture, and the woman had a laceration to the shoulder. The injuries were not thought to be life-threatening, and all three victims were transported to hospitals where they are expected to survive.
Chief of Transit Joseph Gulotta said the attacks appeared to be random acts. The suspect was known to police and had been arrested numerous times, including for menacing and slashing at people with a sharp object, according to two law enforcement sources cited by CNN. The AP reported Griffin had three prior unsealed arrests.
Transit Disruption and Official Response
The police department posted on X urging travelers to avoid the area Saturday morning because of a police investigation and to expect delays and heavy traffic. The Metropolitan Transit Authority said some subway trains were not stopping at the station, which is separate from regional train service at Grand Central.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said on social media that she was "grateful to our brave officers who acted quickly to stop the suspect. We're working closely with the NYPD as the investigation unfolds." CNN reported the incident did not appear to be linked to terrorism at that stage of the investigation.
Why This Matters:
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges facing law enforcement in securing public transit systems against violent individuals with documented criminal histories. The suspect's multiple prior arrests for similar violent offenses raise questions about the effectiveness of current protocols for monitoring and managing repeat offenders who pose clear public safety threats. The officers' decisive action prevented further casualties in a location where thousands of commuters pass daily, demonstrating the critical role of police presence in deterring and responding to violent crime in urban centers. The random nature of the attacks and the vulnerability of elderly victims underscore the need for robust public safety measures that prioritize protection of law-abiding citizens using essential public infrastructure.