New York City’s Fulton Street subway station became the scene of a horrifying domestic violence incident when a 35-year-old man allegedly pushed his girlfriend onto the tracks, resulting in her losing both feet after being struck by an incoming train. The suspect, Christian Valdez, has a history of violent behavior, having been previously imprisoned for a similar attack in 2017 where he threatened a woman and her child during a home invasion.
Valdez, who was residing in a women’s homeless shelter in Brooklyn, was apprehended by the New York Police Department about 11 hours after the subway station incident. He has since been charged with attempted murder and felony assault by the authorities. The victim, a 29-year-old woman whose identity has not been disclosed, was rushed to Bellevue Hospital and was reported to be in stable condition despite the traumatic incident.
According to police reports, the altercation leading to the violent act occurred during an argument on the subway station platform. Valdez allegedly pushed the woman onto the tracks following a domestic dispute. Responding officers found the victim with severe leg injuries, including the amputation of both feet due to the impact of the train.
This is not the first time Valdez has been implicated in a violent crime. In 2017, he was arrested for breaking into an apartment in the Bronx, where he stabbed a woman and threatened to harm her young daughter. Witnesses recounted a harrowing scene where Valdez tried to throw the child off a fire escape before being thwarted by the intervention of neighbors.
Convicted of second-degree attempted assault in connection to the 2017 incident, Valdez served an eight-year sentence before being released on parole in January 2023. However, his release did not prevent him from perpetrating another violent act, raising questions about the effectiveness of the criminal justice system in addressing repeat offenders.
As Valdez awaits arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court for his latest offense, the community is left reeling from the tragic consequences of domestic violence. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in combating intimate partner abuse and protecting vulnerable individuals from harm.