The deadly police-involved shooting happened around 9:30 a.m.
Police say Anthony Griffin, 44, boarded a 7 train at Vernon Boulevard and arrived a short time later at Grand Central. It was there where he stabbed an 84-year-old man on the No. 7 train platform before he moved upstairs to the No. 4, 5 and 6 train platform and slashed two more victims, police said.
Two NYPD detectives working an overtime transit detail encountered one of the victims walking up the steps as they responded. The detectives later encountered Griffin, who had a knife.
During the police encounter, Griffin was acting erratically and stating that he was "Lucifer," according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch during a Saturday afternoon press conference.
The detectives ordered Griffin over 20 times to drop the large knife that he was carrying before he advanced toward them with the blade extended. That's when one of the detectives shot the suspect twice, Tisch said.
Officers performed CPR on the suspect at the scene before he was transported to Bellevue Hospital and pronounced dead.
Police say the three victims, ages 65, 70 and 84, were stabbed prior to the officers' arrival. They were transported to local hospitals. The 65-year-old man suffered an open skull fracture, a severe head injury putting the brain at high risk of injury or infection.
Anthony Carlo has more on the victims:
Grand Central stabbing victims recovering in hospital
It appears the three victims did not know each other and had chance encounters with the suspect, who was set on causing severe harm to people who were simply taking the train.
Two police officers were also taken to the hospital following the incident. Authorities have since recovered the weapon used by the suspect at the scene.
There is no connection to terrorism, police said.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani issued a statement following the deadly shooting, saying in part:
"I'm grateful to the NYPD for their quick response and for preventing additional violence. The three victims were taken to the hospital and are thankfully in stable condition. The NYPD is conducting an internal investigation and will release body-worn camera footage, as it does in all incidents involving the discharge of an officer's firearm."
Earlier on Saturday, New York Gov. Hochul reacted to the incident on social media.
"I've been briefed on the horrific incident at Grand Central this morning. Two innocent people were attacked in a senseless act of violence. I'm grateful to our brave officers who acted quickly to stop the suspect. We're working closely with the NYPD as the investigation unfolds. New Yorkers deserve to feel safe every time they step onto a train platform, and we will do everything it takes to protect them," Hochul said.
Griffin has two prior arrests in New York City and one in Upstate New York, the police commissioner said.
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