Man stabbed several times, killed on subway in Lower Manhattan, suspect on the run
LOWER MANHATTAN (WABC) -- A man died Friday morning after he was stabbed on a subway train following a dispute, in what officials say is the subway system's first homicide of the year.
The 38-year-old victim, identified as Brooklyn resident John Sheldon, was stabbed on a southbound No. 5 train and then exited onto the platform at the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall/Chambers Street station Friday morning around 8:40 a.m.
The stabbing allegedly stemmed from a dispute between Sheldon and the suspect that escalated. It all started when two got into a fight after the suspect unintentionally stepped on Sheldon's shoe.
Witnesses say the victim was being aggressive toward the suspect and called him an anti-gay slur.
The suspect allegedly pulled a knife and stabbed Sheldon in the torso.
The suspect left the train at the Brooklyn Bridge City Hall station but the 38-year-old Sheldon followed him, at which point he was stabbed again on the platform.
All of this was captured by surveillance cameras on both the train and the platform and is currently being reviewed by the NYPD.
The victim was rushed to NYC Health and Hospitals/Bellevue, where he was later pronounced dead.
The attacker is described as a man in his 30s with a black beard and was seen wearing a black hoodie and jeans, a black baseball cap and black Beats headphones.
Eyewitness News spoke to a subway rider who said security needs to be stepped up on trains.
"We don't see enough police presence on the trains. I don't know what needs to be done, but that definitely needs to be done," said subway rider Rachael Masters.
Authorities said John had around 70 prior arrests.
His last arrest was in February for assaulting a police officer at 34th Street Penn Station. He was selling swipes, then chased a rider around, and attempted to assault him. While in custody, he kicked an MTA police officer in the knee.
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