Police Fatally Shoot Suspect After Three Injured in Grand Central Subway Incident

NEW YORK — A knife-wielding man was fatally shot by police at Grand Central Station’s subway platform in New York City on Saturday after he allegedly attacked and injured three individuals, according to the NYPD.

The assailant, identified as 44-year-old Anthony Griffen, reportedly boarded the 7 train at the Vernon Boulevard station in Queens. Upon reaching Grand Central, he is said to have stabbed an elderly man on the train platform. He then moved to the 4/5/6 platform, where he allegedly slashed two more people, authorities stated during a press briefing.

Police were alerted to the situation shortly after 9:30 a.m. Two NYPD detectives, who were working an overtime transit detail, encountered one of the injured individuals as they ascended the steps during their response to the incident.

Griffen was reportedly behaving erratically and claimed to be “Lucifer,” as described by Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch during the briefing.

The detectives instructed Griffen to drop the large knife he was brandishing, repeating the command approximately 20 times. When he advanced towards them with the weapon, one detective responded by firing two shots, resulting in Griffen’s death, Commissioner Tisch explained.

Griffen has three priors in New York City, according to the commissioner.

The slashing wounds are severe but the victims are stable in the hospital, according to police.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he had been briefed on the incident.

“I’m grateful to the NYPD for their quick response and for preventing additional violence. 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,” Mamdani said in a statement.

There is no connection to terrorism, police said.