In yet another chilling attack on the subway, a New York City straphanger was shot and killed by an apparent stranger on Sunday.
Witnesses told police the bearded suspect was going back and forth in the last car of a Q train before he suddenly pulled out a gun and shot the 48-year-old victim “without provocation”, Police Chief Kenneth Corey said. said.
There was no previous contact between the men, Corey said at a news conference, and there is no indication that they recognize each other.
The shooting took place around noon as the train was traveling across the Manhattan Bridge to Canal Street Station in lower Manhattan. The gunman fled as soon as the train stopped. The shooter was still at large on Sunday evening.
The victim was declared brought dead after being taken to a nearby hospital via an ambulance due to chest injury. His name was withheld pending notification of his family.
Police are reviewing transit surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses at Canal Street station for photographs of the shooter. Corey asked anyone with additional information to come forward
“Help us find this man,” Corey said.
Corey said the NYPD has hired additional officers for the subway system.
“We’ve pushed a lot of additional officers into the metro system,” he said. “We continue to do this to patrol this very extensive transit system, and we will continue to do so.”
Several high-profile subway attacks have shocked New Yorkers. Last month, a man opened fire on a crowded Brooklyn train, injuring 10 people. The alleged shooter is now facing terrorism charges.
In January, a stranger pushed a woman to death in front of a train.
