2 men pushed onto subway tracks on Upper East Side are hospitalized, NYPD says
Two men, including a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, were injured after being pushed onto subway tracks in New York City on Sunday. The NYPD is asking the public for help finding the suspect.
Police said it happened on the southbound F and Q platform at the Lexington Avenue and 63rd Street station on Manhattan's Upper East Side.
They said a man went behind a 30-year-old man and pushed him onto the tracks. Then, the suspect went behind an 83-year-old man and shoved him before running away. The victims were transported to a nearby hospital in stable and critical condition, respectively.
The NYPD said the suspect was last seen wearing a gray jacket, red sweatshirt and light-colored pants.
83-year-old victim is an Air Force veteran
The older victim has been identified as Richard Williams, an Air Force veteran. His granddaughter, Samantha Loria, was in tears on Monday as she spoke to CBS News New York exclusively. She said Williams has always been the light of her life.
"The hardest part is I can't have a conversation, or hug him again," Loria said. "Any time I visit him, we walk around. We would go to Manhattan. He would always say hi to everyone, ask how they're dong. It doesn't hurt anything to be kind."
Williams is now fighting for his life. Loria said he suffered multiple fractures and has bleeding on the brain after hitting his head on the tracks.
"Thank God there's wasn't a train coming," Loria said.
Loria said her grandfather takes ultimate pride in the family he built, which includes three daughters and two grandkids. He also mastered the art of flying high and fighting hard, serving in the Air Force and beating cancer.
"He survived a fire, cancer recently, and all he wanted to do is walk. He loves to walk," Loria said.
The Williams family is now praying their hero is able to open his eyes again.
"He was a very selfless man. He would give anyone the last shirt on his back," Loria said.
Subway safety remains a concern
CBS News New York cameras captured images Monday of police putting up posters of Williams' alleged subway pusher, at the upper east side subway platform.
"If they can do that to someone that's 83 years old, anyone could be a target," subway rider Gary Graham said.
The NYPD said there have been nine subway push incidents so far this year, compared to 19 all of last year and a total of 26 in 2024.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips on the Crime Stoppers website or on X @NYPDTips.
