Suspect shoves man to his death in Chelsea hours after being taken into custody, NYPD says
A 76-year-old man died after being shoved down subway entrance steps in Chelsea by a man who was in police custody hours earlier, the NYPD said.
It happened just before 9:30 p.m. Thursday at West 18th Street and 7th Avenue.
Responding officers found Ross Falzone, a Manhattan resident, on the subway stairs with head injuries and a fractured spine. He was rushed to Bellevue Hospital in critical condition, but later died.
Rhamell Burke, 32, was arrested Friday evening and charged with murder.
Suspect was in hospital for psychiatric evaluation
At around 3:30 p.m. Thursday, police said they encountered the suspect acting erratically outside the 17th Precinct stationhouse. He was taken into custody, and officers brought him to Bellevue Hospital. He was taken to the psychiatric emergency room for evaluation at 3:52 p.m., and released by the hospital at 4:39 p.m.
At around 9:30 that night, surveillance video captures Falzone approaching the subway. Burke can be seen walking quickly behind Falzone, then shoving him down the steps, according to police.
Falzone struck his head about halfway down the steps. Emergency responders were called and rushed him to Bellevue Hospital, where he died just before 3 a.m. Friday.
Police said Burke was taken back into custody Friday afternoon inside Penn Station.
"It scares me. It scares me about a lot of things that are going in the city," Chelsea resident Susan Antonson said.
Mamdani orders investigation into Bellevue Hospital
Mayor Zohran Mamdani ordered an investigation into Bellevue Hospital's handling of the suspect's psychiatric evaluation and discharge in response to the attack on Falzone in Chelsea. He also ordered a broader review of the entire NYC Health + Hospitals system's protocols.
"I am horrified by the killing of Ross Falzone and the circumstances that led to it. I extend my condolences to his loved ones," Mamdani said. "New Yorkers deserve answers. That is why I've directed NYC Health + Hospitals to conduct both an immediate investigation on what steps should have been taken to prevent this tragedy and a comprehensive review of their psychiatric evaluation and discharge protocols."
Mamdani's office said he directed the public hospital system to "conduct a root cause analysis and a full internal review of NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue Hospital's psychiatric evaluation procedures, with a particular focus on protocols related to psychosis, crisis assessment and discharge decisions."
A spokesperson for NYC Health + Hospitals said in a statement, "We welcome this review, and we expect that it will find our care was appropriate. NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue is justly nationally recognized for its services for complex patients and all New Yorkers without exception."
The mayor's office added that the New York State Department of Health agreed to launch its own investigation in the handling of the suspect's psychiatric evaluation prior to the attack.
Neighbors remember victim as kind, genuine
Falzone lived on the Upper West Side and was described by neighbors as a friendly, longtime resident.
One neighbor who did not want to be identified said Falzone was a former teacher who loved classic music.
"Ross was an incredibly kind, nice person. Super genuine, very talkative," she said. "Loved living here, loved going out and about, seeing performances, going to Carnegie Hall or Lincoln Center."
The neighbor added, "I do want people to know that he was just the nicest, most genuine, kind person."
