EAST VILLAGE, Manhattan (WABC) — A 40-year-old man was stabbed multiple times early Wednesday during an argument on a northbound 6 train in Manhattan, police said.
The stabbing happened just before 2:30 a.m. Police said the victim, who is homeless and from Manhattan, was stabbed multiple times by another man wearing a ski mask.
The victim was found after the train arrived at the Astor Place station at Lafayette Street in the East Village. Someone called 911, and the suspect ran away, police said.
The victim was taken to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition.
“It’s really sad and scary,” said Nancy Bissmeyer, who was visiting from Indianapolis. “I try not to ride in the middle of the night so I don’t know if that helps at all.”
Joseph Phillips, who lives nearby in the East Village, described the incident as “wild.”
“It’s always going to be arguments. The city can stress people out especially if you’re unhoused that’s a big issue as well,” Phillips said.
Police could have a lead on the suspect because the MTA has a camera on every subway car.
“It’s kind of to be expected these days unfortunately,” said Ella Bardo, who was visiting from Carmel, Indiana, with Bissmeyer.
“I wish they would do more with prosecuting crime here in New York,” Bardo said.
Major crime across the subway system is up 1.6% so far this year, driven by felony assaults and nonviolent grand larcenies. According to the NYPD, felony assaults are up 12% and misdemeanor assaults are up 16%. Six subway murders have been reported so far this year, compared with four last year.
“What if the cops do their job and then they can’t finish. You gotta run all the way around the track to make a mile, not halfway, you know,” Bardo said.
Phillips also pointed to mental health concerns.
“Mental health is a tackle. People really don’t want to talk about the issues at hand and it just leads to hostile environments for the rest of us,” Phillips said.
The suspect, who police said was wearing a ski mask, remained at large.
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