45 year old man shoved in front of train in NYC while waiting for the number 1 downtown subway train by 23 year old suspect , Kamel Hawkins, with prior criminal history. Victim survives with critical injuries as suspect is charged with attempted murder and second-degree assault.
A straphanger at a NYC subway station has suffered serious injuries after video captured the man being dramatically shoved onto subway tracks into the path of an incoming 1 train in Manhattan, Tuesday afternoon.
In what is thought to be a random attack, the unidentified 45 year old man was at the 18th Street station just on 1:30 p.m. Tuesday when a hooded perp, since identified as 23 year old man, Kamel Hawkins, is seen on video milling around the platform only to suddenly push the unawares man from behind onto the path of the incoming southbound number 1 train.
Incredibly, the victim survived with just a head injury — with police saying the man miraculously fell into the trench of subway tracks and the train passing over him, in what in most instances would have been a fatality.
Security video shows a man shoved in front of a New York City Subway train.
This is the latest of many such incidents in New York City. With more expected in the new year. pic.twitter.com/ZSdXM8dVdk
— Jon Fox (@DrJonFox) December 31, 2024
Man pushed in front of train miraculously survives
Around a dozen firefighters were able to pull the man from the subway tracks.
He is expected to survive the incident, but has suffered an injury to his head and has a broken rib, NBC reported.
The suspect, Kamel Hawkins, 23, fled the station but was arrested above ground near Columbus Circle hours later, cops said.
‘The subway stopped abruptly, then we waited for 10 minutes, confused,’ said Violet Paley, who was on the train, the nypost reported.
‘Then the conductor said over the intercom that we were going to have to evacuate because there was a man under the train,’ Paley said. ‘We walked off the subway, there were a bunch of cops and paramedics and they climbed down to get him.
‘When they got him out I was shocked to see him blinking his eyes and moving his fingers. He was bloody.’
There’s nothing to see here. Just another person shoved on to the tracks in the subway of New York City! This man’s life was spared. pic.twitter.com/5c1Bbk1yBS
— The Disrespected Trucker (@DisrespectedThe) December 31, 2024
23 year old perp’s prior criminal history
Hawkins who now faces attempted murder and second-degree assault charges is alleged to have a history with the NYPD, including for allegedly assaulting a police officer.
According to police sources, the shoving suspect was charged with assault in June 2019 after slamming a cop to the ground on Flushing Avenue when the officer spotted him acting disorderly, leaving the cop with a back injury.
Hawkins also has an open case in Brooklyn on assault, harassment and weapons possession charges for an incident on Oct. 12.
Sources said he was released without bail in another case in 2020 despite prosecutors asking he be held. It is unclear what the charges were in that case.
As of Tuesday night, the victim was listed in stable condition at Bellevue Hospital.
It does not appear the victim knew his attacker, cops said. Also not known is what motivated the perp in shoving the straphanger on to subway tracks.
The incident is the latest in a string of violent random attacks on the New York City subway system, after a woman was tragically and fatally set alight by a stranger earlier this month.
The victim was identified Tuesday by the NYPD as Debrina Kawam, a 57-year-old homeless woman from New Jersey.
On Christmas Eve, two people were injured in Manhattan’s Grand Central Station after a 28 year old man went on a random stabbing rampage.
