A machete-wielding man randomly attacked three people at the iconic Grand Central station in New York City On Saturday (US time). Authorities have since identified the suspect as 44-year-old Anthony Griffin, who called himself “Lucifer.” Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch additionally confirmed that cops shot the man dead after the threat did not stop despite officers giving him “clear demands” and attempting to de-escalate the situation.
About NYC Grand Central attack suspect Anthony Griffin aka Lucifer
At about 9:40 am, the attack suspect exited at the Grand Central-42nd Street Station, according to Tisch’s remarks at a news conference on Saturday. Griffin is said to have been acting erratically on a subway train before that. He originally boarded a 7 train at the Vernon Boulevard station in Queens just 10 minutes before he reportedly attacked three people.
The police commissioner revealed further that he is then believed to have slashed a person on a 7 train platform and two others on the uptown 4,5 and 6 platform. Thereafter, a police officer shot Griffin as they took the “decisive action” to stop the suspected attacker’s violent rampage to “protect New Yorkers on one of the busiest train platforms in the city.”
Information disclosed during the news conference further established 44-year-old Anthony Griffin called himself Lucifer after the attacks.
Once officers arrived at the scene on Saturday, they witnessed Griffin repeatedly calling himself Lucifer, the fallen angel, while holding a machete. He was ultimately told to drop the weapon at least 20 times. However, Griffin refused to comply with police’s orders and ended up moving toward them with the machete.
Consequently, an officer shot him twice in response to the threat’s emergence, before coming to the suspect’s aid. Griffin and the three stabbing victim were taken to Bellevue Hospital, where the suspect was eventually pronounced dead.
Tisch also said that the man has been arrested thrice before Saturday’s incident in NYC. No traces of a history of mental illness were documented with the police.
Three law enforcement officials, who spoke to The New York Times on the condition of anonymity, divulged that the hostile behaviour didn’t appear to be an act of terrorism. Similarly, Tisch also called the incident a random attack during the news conference.
The victims injured on Saturday included an 84-year-old man, a 65-year-old man and 70-year-old woman. The oldest victim sustained “significant lacerations” to his head and face, while the woman was hit on her shoulder. The other man suffered an open skull fracture. As their injuries are being treated at the medical facility, all three victims are expected to survive.
Mayor Mamdani speaks out
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani took to his official X account to thank the New York Police Department (NYPD) for its quick response to prevent additional violence. Noting that he had been briefed on the issue, he wrote, “The three victims were taken to the hospital and are thankfully in stable condition. The NYPD is conducting an internal investigation and will release body-worn camera footage, as it does in all incidents involving the discharge of an officer’s firearm.”