On the morning of April 11, 2026, 44-year-old Anthony Griffin carried out a series of random machete attacks at the Grand Central-42nd Street station. Griffin entered the subway system in Queens and began his rampage on the 7 train platform, where he slashed an 84-year-old man on the head. He then moved to the upper level 4, 5, 6 platform, seriously injuring a 65-year-old man with a skull fracture and slashing a 70-year-old woman on the shoulder. All three victims were hospitalized at Bellevue Hospital in stable condition.
Two NYPD transit detectives on an overtime detail were alerted by a witness and found Griffin behaving erratically and repeatedly shouting that he was “Lucifer, the fallen angel”. According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the officers ordered Griffin to drop the machete at least 20 times and offered to get him medical assistance. When Griffin refused to comply and advanced toward the officers with the blade extended, one detective fired two shots, fatally striking him. He was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly thereafter.
The incident has sparked renewed debate over transit safety and mental health intervention in New York City. Commissioner Tisch noted that while Griffin had three prior arrests, including a charge for menacing with a sharp object, he had no documented “Emotionally Disturbed Person” (EDP) history with the NYPD. Griffin’s partner and friends have stated he was “fighting demons” and struggling with his mental state, and they have called for the immediate release of body-camera footage.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul praised the officers’ quick response for preventing further violence. The NYPD is conducting an internal investigation, and city officials have confirmed that body-camera footage of the entire encounter will be released to the public as per standard protocol.