A violent attack at one of New York City’s busiest transit hubs ended with a suspect dead after he allegedly stabbed multiple people and advanced on police. Authorities say the man, who referred to himself as “Lucifer,” carried out a random assault before being shot by officers.
The Suspect and Timeline
Anthony Griffin, 44, entered the subway system on the morning of April 11, according to the New York Police Department.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Griffin boarded a No. 7 train from Queens and traveled to Grand Central Terminal.
During the journey, he was reportedly behaving erratically and repeatedly claimed that he was “Lucifer.”
The Attack
The first reported victim, an 84-year-old man, suffered cuts to the head and face around 9:40 a.m.
Griffin then moved to another platform inside the station, where he attacked two more people. A 70-year-old woman was slashed on the shoulder, and a 65-year-old man sustained similar injuries.
All three victims were transported to a hospital and were listed in stable condition.
Police Response
When officers arrived, they confronted Griffin, who was still armed with a machete.
According to Commissioner Tisch, officers issued multiple commands for him to drop the weapon and attempted to de-escalate the situation, even offering help.
Authorities said Griffin ignored at least 20 commands and instead advanced toward officers with the weapon.
Fatal Shooting
As the threat continued, one officer fired, striking Griffin twice.
He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Two officers were also hospitalized following the incident and were reported to be in stable condition.
Investigation and Aftermath
Officials said the attack appeared to be random, with no known connection between Griffin and the victims.
Investigators also noted that Griffin had prior arrests. Transit service at Grand Central Terminal was disrupted as authorities secured the scene and continued their investigation.
Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s mayor, said he had been briefed on the incident and praised the police response for preventing further harm.
The NYPD is conducting an internal review and is expected to release body camera footage related to the shooting.
