Man arrested, charged with murder after dad of 3 slashed, killed on L train in Brooklyn
CANARSIE, Brooklyn (WABC) -- Police have arrested a man and charged him with murder after a passenger on an L train in Brooklyn was slashed and killed last week.
Alvin Charles, 43, said nothing as he was led out of the 73rd precinct station Wednesday night, barraged with questions about why he allegedly attacked 43-year-old Tommy Bailey Friday night on an L train in East New York.
The victim was a union steamfitter and father of three. He was also a star baseball player in high school.
The incident happened onboard a southbound L train around 9 p.m.
Police sources told Eyewitness News, Bailey saw the suspect disrespect a police officer on the train station platform.
They say Bailey then approached the suspect and told him to stop being disrespectful to the officer.
That sparked a verbal dispute on the platform, which spilled onto the train and got physical.
Police sources say the suspect took out a knife and slashed Bailey across the neck, before making his escape.
Outside the victim's apartment on Monday were candles, balloons and a baseball.
His uncle, Richard Bailey, said he loved Canarsie and never expressed fear about riding the subway.
"He's not the guy to go look for trouble," Bailey said. "Saying I'm going out there and I'm gonna fight with someone, no. He did construction work, you know? He's got three kids, he's got a family."
Bailey's two older children issued a statement Wednesday saying they are heartbroken by the loss of their dad and to have lost him in this terrible manner. They said he was a good man, who was easygoing, funny and kind.
There were no cameras onboard the train. Last month, the MTA announced that over the next two years, cameras will be installed in every car in the agency's fleet.
Riders we spoke with said they're careful to keep to themselves in the transit system.
"I've never engaged people on the train," subway rider Mark Jepsen said. "Personally, I try not to, I'm keeping one eye on the closest exit and also kind of looking at who's getting on the car and who's getting off the car."
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