Deadly Times Square subway attack
NEW YORK — Despite the shoving death of Michelle Alyssa Go, 40, by a homeless man in Times Square over the weekend, Mayor Eric Adams said the transit system remains safe. The NYPD said that the man accused of shoving a 40-year-old woman in front of a subway has previously done time behind bars for felonies.
Simon Martial, 61, was charged with second-degree murder after pushing Go, an Asian American woman, in front of a southbound R train Saturday morning. Martial had an extensive criminal history dating back to the 1990s. He was also wanted on an outstanding warrant when he attempted to push another woman onto the tracks before approaching Go.
Today, a woman entered the subway station, like any New Yorker, just trying to get where she needed to go.
Our hearts break for her and her family. I thank the men and women of the NYPD for their quick work in apprehending the suspect. https://t.co/EpruHTPGDi— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) January 15, 2022
He was not charged with a hate crime, but the NYPD said the investigation was ongoing.
“We know that public safety is not only actual but perceived. When you have an incident like this, the perception is what we’re fighting against. This is a safe system,” said Adams during a media briefing.
Adams insists subways are safe
Despite the shoving death of a woman inside the Times Square subway station, NYC Mayor Eric Adams maintains the subway system is safe. Adams also announced a new initiative to crack down on transit crime and eaw12xpand mental health outreach.
Accident occured on Upper West Side, after 9:30 a.m. in the 42nd Street and Broadway subway station where police officers were stationed.
Police say a homeless man, Simon Martial, 61, pushed Michelle Alyssa Go, 40, in front of an oncoming subway train in Times Square Saturday morning, killing her.
“This incident was unprovoked, and the victim does not appear to have had any interaction with the subject,” Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said at a press conference Saturday afternoon.
“He approaches her and he gets in her space. She gets very, very alarmed,” Wilcox said, describing the earlier encounter. “She tries to move away from him and he gets close to her, and she feels that he was about to physically push her onto the train. As she’s walking away she witnesses the crime where he pushes our other victim in front of the train.”
Adams says the NYPD would ensure the transit system was safe for commuters after the attack.
“This is a safe system because of the job of the transit officers have carried out,” Adams said. “We’re going to continue to enhance, to deal with the mental health crisis that we have in our system.”
