November 19, 2020
UNION SQUARE, New York—A horrific attack transpired Thursday morning, November 19 at the 14th Street Union Square subway station.
Investigators say for no apparent reason a man pushed a stranger just waiting for a train onto the tracks, according to CBSN New York. Police characterized the attack as attempted murder.
An oncoming train appeared to trigger the suspect, who darted over to a woman standing unaware until it was too late.
Witnesses stated the woman said nothing to the stranger before being violently shoved to what would only imagine being certain death, reports CBSN New York.
“The perpetrator had no contact with the victim. There were no words exchanged,” NYPD Assistant Chief Kathleen O’Reilly stated. “It’s very disturbing. We see him waiting, calculating, for the train to approach the station and the opportune moment.”
The train pulled forward and the woman miraculously survived.
Andre Gunter, who witnessed the incident unfold, “I was in front, and then the next thing you kind of see somebody like falling on the track,” Gunter stated to CBSN New York. “Then in a couple of seconds, the conductor stopped the train. Then he came out, like traumatized, he was like ‘that was a person.’”
The woman was transported to Bellevue Hospital. She luckily dodged serious injury because of the way she landed after being pushed, police said.
“She fell, fortunately for her, between the roll bed and the rails and there, but for the grace of God, sustained minor injuries,” Assistant Chief O’Reilly said.
Thursday evening, the injured woman returned to her Brooklyn home with only cuts on her head. Family members stated she is physically fine, however, she is obviously mentally distraught after the incident.
24-year-old Aditya Vemulapati, a homeless man, was charged with attempted murder and assault. No word if the suspect will also be charged with a hate crime as well. The suspect did not run away after the push. He was immediately detained by police officers who were already on site.
This incident is the second time in 14 hours that a stranger pushed a subway rider onto tracks. On Wednesday, a 36-year-old man was beaten and shoved to the train tracks. The suspect, 23-year-old Justin Pena was arrested by the NYPD and charged with attempted murder and reckless endangerment. A few weeks earlier, another Asian man with his parents was attacked as well.
Feature Image via CBSN New York