Man shoved in front of Manhattan subway in New York, suspect arrested

A man was violently shoved onto subway tracks in Chelsea; suspect arrested after incident.

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A man narrowly escaped death after being shoved onto the tracks of an oncoming subway train in Chelsea, Manhattan, on Tuesday afternoon.

The incident occurred around 1:30 pm (local time) at the 18th Street station, when a suspect, later identified as Kamel Hawkins, 23, of Brooklyn, pushed the victim onto the tracks in front of a 1 train.

Surveillance footage obtained by Eyewitness News shows the victim standing near the edge of the platform when Hawkins approached and forcefully shoved him.

A witness, who did not want to be identified, described the attack as violent, noting the victim screamed as he fell onto the tracks.

First responders quickly arrived at the scene, going between the stopped subway cars to rescue the 45-year-old victim, who was later transported to Bellevue Hospital.

Sources confirmed the victim, a New York City resident, suffered broken ribs and a fractured skull but is currently in stable condition.

Hawkins was apprehended nearby by transit officers after being identified from the video footage. He was charged with attempted murder and felony assault. Hawkins, who has a history of previous arrests, is due back in court on January 6.

Photo: MTA

The attack was deemed random by police, who stated Hawkins did not know the victim and did not speak to him before the incident.

Mayor Eric Adams defended his administration's efforts to address safety concerns on the subway system, noting a decline in crime overall in 2024. However, he acknowledged that public perception of subway safety remains a challenge, especially following high-profile incidents like this one.

The suspect's arrest was made possible through surveillance cameras, which continue to play a critical role in identifying and apprehending suspects in subway-related crimes.