Newly surfaced footage reveals a gun-carrying commuter casually passing through an emergency gate to evade the fare, as per NYPD officials on Friday. They stood by their enforcement of quality-of-life issues.
Dajuan Robinson, a 36-year-old passenger, was shot in the head with his own firearm after suddenly becoming aggressive towards a 32-year-old male commuter on an A train at the Hoyt-Schermerhorn Street station on Thursday night, according to police and law-enforcement sources.
The individual who fired the shots, as depicted in the video, had been previously menaced and harassed and is currently under police custody.
The question of who may be charged and the nature of the charges remains uncertain. The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office will ultimately determine this as police investigators continue their inquiry, stated NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey during a press briefing.
Robinson initiated the confrontation by harassing the other man upon entering the crowded train, though the reason for his behavior remains unclear, as per police sources.
Amidst Robinson’s outburst, he verbally attacked the other individual, stating, “I’ll beat you up! You think you’re gonna beat up cops?”
An off-camera woman interjected, suggesting, “He thinks you’re a migrant, he thinks you’re an immigrant,” in an apparent reference to a previous incident involving a rowdy migrant group assaulting officers near Times Square in January.
Robinson continued his tirade, expressing, “F–k your kind! F–k your race! F–k you!”
The incident on the Brooklyn subway involving the shooting unfolded in a series of events captured in a video. The altercation between the 36-year-old and the 32-year-old individual escalated, culminating in at least four gunshots ringing out within the crowded train. Amidst the scuffle, a woman on the train stabbed the 36-year-old in the back, prompting him to draw a gun from his jacket and charge at the 32-year-old, leading to chaos among the commuters.
The 32-year-old managed to disarm his attacker during the struggle and used the weapon against him. The altercation ensued for several minutes as onlookers implored them to cease, noting the presence of children onboard.
The aggressor, now bleeding from the stab wound, confronted the woman, while the 36-year-old, donning a black hoodie, brandished the gun. Passengers hurried to the opposite end of the train, some even taking cover on the floor.
The 32-year-old was apprehended before exiting the platform, as confirmed by NYPD Chief of Transit Michael Kemper.
Deputy Inspector Tarik Sheppard highlighted the importance of addressing fare evasion, emphasizing that 13.3% of subway riders evaded fares in the first quarter of the year. He stressed the significance of deterring individuals who pose a threat and evade payment, underscoring the need for quality-of-life measures to maintain the safety of the transit system.