NEW YORK CITY, NY – Police in Queens are investigating two violent attacks at the Queens Plaza subway station following a week of high-profile crimes across the New York City transit system.
In the first incident, a 31-year-old man was beaten multiple times in the head with a metal pipe, while in the second incident, a 29-year-old man from Brazil was slashed from behind on the left side of his neck. The victim is expected to recover.
Surveillance photos have been released by the police in an attempt to find the attacker in both cases. The suspect in the first attack is described as having a dark complexion, with a medium build, and was last seen wearing a skull cap, grey hooded jacket, dark grey jeans, and tan work boots. The suspect in the slashing is also wanted by authorities.
Despite increased police presence in the subway system, crime continues to be a top concern across the city. Surveillance pictures of the man wanted in the slashing have been released, but the suspects in both attacks are still at large.
NYPD Transit Chief Michael Kemper expressed frustration with the repeated cycle of crime, even with the department’s efforts to combat it. He mentioned the deployment of additional cops to the subway system but noted the challenges in addressing the acts of lawlessness. Crime data shows that the subway system is experiencing an overall uptick in crime, by 22.6%.
The concern over safety in the subway system is not limited to Queens, as a similar sentiment is shared in the Bronx, where the NYPD is still on the hunt for a teenager who allegedly shot and killed a man on a platform in the Mount Eden station.
In addition, a 70-year-old man was pushed to the ground at the Jackson Heights Roosevelt Avenue subway station, adding to the growing list of violent incidents in the transit system.
These recent series of crimes have prompted a reevaluation of safety measures in the subway system, as authorities work to address the rising concerns of public safety and overall crime rates in the city.