A machete-wielding suspect randomly attacked three people at New York City's Grand Central Terminal on Saturday before being fatally shot by police, in an incident that disrupted rail service at the nation's busiest transit hub.
The suspect, identified as 44-year-old Anthony Griffin, slashed an 84-year-old man and a 65-year-old man about the head and face and left a 70-year-old woman with cuts to her shoulder on the subway platform, according to NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. The suspect ignored at least 20 demands from officers to drop his weapon and called himself Lucifer, authorities said. No connection to terrorism was suspected.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive lawmakers and advocates pointed to the incident as evidence of gaps in mental health services and support for people in crisis. New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, described the attack as "a senseless act of violence" against innocent people and called for continued investment in transit safety measures. Mayor Zohran Mamdani, also a Democrat, praised the rapid response of police officers while noting that body camera footage would be released to ensure transparency. Advocacy groups have long called for increased funding for mental health crisis intervention teams and resources to address underlying issues that lead to violent incidents in public spaces.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative critics focused on the suspect's criminal history and questioned why prior arrests had not resulted in closer monitoring. Commissioner Tisch noted the assailant had three prior arrests but no Emotionally Disturbed Person (EDP) report history with NYPD. Republican lawmakers and law enforcement advocates emphasized that the incident highlighted the need for stronger public safety measures in transit systems and questioned whether existing protocols were sufficient to prevent attacks. Some officials called for reviewing procedures for handling individuals with prior arrests who may pose a risk to public safety.
What the Numbers Show
The three victims — an 84-year-old man, a 65-year-old man, and a 70-year-old woman — were all taken to hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening, according to police. The 84-year-old man suffered significant lacerations to the head and face, while the 65-year-old man sustained similar injuries plus an open skull fracture. Two transit officers responded to the alert at 09:40 EDT and one officer discharged his weapon, striking the suspect twice. The suspect was pronounced dead at Bellevue Hospital. The assailant had three prior arrests but no documented history of mental health crisis calls with NYPD.
The Bottom Line
The Grand Central Terminal attack marks another high-profile incident of violence in New York City's transit system, raising questions about both mental health intervention and public safety protocols. Police body camera footage is expected to be released, which will provide additional details about the response. The victims are recovering from non-life-threatening injuries while authorities continue investigating the suspect's background and motive.