NYPD Investigating At Least 5 Separate Stabbings At Subway Stations Since Friday

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — There have been 5 at the very least 5 stabbings within the subway system since Friday evening.

Transit information launched Sunday present crimes underground are up by greater than 100 in comparison with the identical time final yr. Theft and grand larceny have considerably elevated, whereas violent crimes comparable to homicide and felony assault stayed about the identical, CBS2’s Cory James reported.

James spoke with one of many victims who was attacked on Saturday evening. He stated it was not the primary time he has been attacked inside a station.

READ MORE: NYPD: Suspect Punched, Stabbed Lady At East New York Subway Station

Victor Mendoza confirmed James photos that he took whereas within the hospital after getting stabbed within the leg on the 168th Avenue station in Washington Heights.

The assault occurred because the 24-year-old building employee was heading dwelling from work at round 8:30 p.m.

“They wished to rob my pockets, however I defended myself,” Mendoza stated in Spanish. “First, I grabbed him from right here by the door of the doorway of the practice. I pushed and that’s when the opposite individual got here with a knife and hit me right here. So I needed to let him go in order that they wouldn’t damage me extra.”

READ MORE: NYPD: Man Stabbed Throughout Tried Theft At Queens Subway Station, 3 Suspects Needed

Based on police, the suspects are two teenagers and certainly one of them stabbed Mendoza with a boxcutter.

A few half hour later, authorities say a 31-year-old man was assaulted on the 116th Avenue station close to Columbia College. Investigators stated that sufferer was stabbed with a knife after allegedly asking a person and girl who had been smoking contained in the station and blocking his path to maneuver.

These incidents adopted at the very least three different stabbings within the metropolis since Friday. All of them despatched victims — two males and a lady — to hospitals for his or her accidents.

Danny Pearlstein is with the Riders Alliance, a corporation working to enhance the subway. He stated whereas the mayor and governor are taking measures to fight the continued violence, New Yorkers ought to nonetheless do their half to assist by taking public transit.

READ MORE: Mayor Adams Faces Pushback From Advocates For Homeless After Unveiling Subsequent Part Of Subway Security Plan

Pearlstein used the instance of how parks improved in the beginning of the pandemic.

“Individuals additionally had little or no to do and so they went to the parks and consequently parks turned a lot safer than they’d been earlier than and, tragically, the subway turned extra harmful, and that’s why we really feel the whole lot that the transit can do to deliver extra riders into the system is in the end what is going to make it safer for everybody there,” Pearlstein stated.

And safer for Mendoza, who stated this was the second time he has been attacked at a subway station.

“The primary time I didn’t inform the police, however this time I needed to inform the police,” Mendoza stated.

Mendoza is anticipated to make a full restoration.