Two people have died and two more have been injured after several stabbings at New York City subway stations.
New York City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said in a press conference on Saturday afternoon there were four separate incidents of people “cut with a sharp object” in the metro system on line A.
Shea said an additional 500 agents will be deployed across New York City to patrol the subway system.
“The end result the public should know is that they can expect to see a very large footprint of uniformed officers deployed across New York City, whether they’re going on a train or going on a platform,” Shea said. “They will be there for the time needed to make sure people feel safe.”
NYPD traffic chief Kathleen O’Reilly said the first attack occurred Friday at 11:20 a.m., when a 67-year-old man was stabbed by an unknown man at 181st Street Station. He was later treated at a local hospital.
Twelve hours later, at 11:29 p.m., Friday, another adult man was pronounced dead on train A at Mott Avenue-Far Rockott Station. He suffered stab wounds to the neck and torso, O’Reilly said.
Around 1:15 a.m. Saturday morning, an unconscious 44-year-old woman was found inside a train at Inwood 207th Street station with “several stab wounds.” O’Reilly said she was taken to a hospital in the area, where she was pronounced dead.
About 20 minutes later, at 1:28 a.m. Saturday morning, police responded to a call at 659 W. 181st St., where they found a 43-year-old man was stabbed at 181st St. Station. O’Reilly said he was treated at a local hospital and appears to be in stable condition.
O’Reilly said three of the incidents “appear to be connected,” adding that the Detective’s Office “is studying the possibility that all four may have been committed by an individual.”
Deputy Director Brian McGee, who commands the North Manhattan Detective Office, said it appears the incidents are unprovoked and all the victims were homeless.
McGee said the police department “doesn’t have much” at the moment about the perpetrator.