NYPD Kills Machete‑Wielding Suspect After Three Stabbed at Grand Central Subway Platform
At Grand Central’s subway platform in New York City, a machete‑wielding suspect identified by officials as 44‑year‑old Anthony Griffin allegedly stabbed three people — an 84‑year‑old man with face and head lacerations, a 65‑year‑old man with similar injuries and an open skull fracture, and a 70‑year‑old woman with shoulder lacerations — before officers shot and killed him after issuing more than 20 commands to drop the weapon. Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Griffin repeatedly claimed he was “Lucifer,” two NYPD officers were treated for minor injuries, Griffin had three prior unsealed arrests but no NYPD record as an emotionally disturbed person, and Governor Kathy Hochul called the attack a “senseless act of violence” and pledged state cooperation in the investigation.
📌 Key Facts
- The attack occurred on a Grand Central subway platform where a machete‑wielding suspect allegedly stabbed three people; NYPD officers shot the suspect twice and he later died. The suspect was identified as 44‑year‑old Anthony Griffin.
- The three victims were an 84‑year‑old man with face and head lacerations; a 65‑year‑old man with similar lacerations plus an open skull fracture; and a 70‑year‑old woman with shoulder lacerations.
- Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Griffin was 'repeatedly stating that he was Lucifer' and that officers issued more than 20 commands to drop the machete before firing.
- NYPD records showed Griffin had three prior unsealed arrests but no documented history of being an 'emotionally disturbed person.'
- Two NYPD officers were transported with minor injuries; Governor Kathy Hochul called the stabbings a 'senseless act of violence' and pledged state cooperation in the investigation.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2024, Black individuals made up 49.0% of known suspects in felonious assaults in New York City, compared to their 20.3% share of the city's population, while Hispanic individuals comprised 36.3% of suspects against a 28.4% population share, White individuals 7.7% against 31.0%, and Asian/Pacific Islanders 6.7% against 14.9%.
Crime and Enforcement Activity in New York City (Jan 1, 2024 - Dec 31, 2024) — New York City Police Department
In 2024, victims of felonious assaults in NYC were 39.1% Black, 38.1% Hispanic, 13.2% White, and 9.2% Asian/Pacific Islander, showing Black and Hispanic individuals are disproportionately victimized compared to their population shares of 20.3% and 28.4%, respectively.
Crime and Enforcement Activity in New York City (Jan 1, 2024 - Dec 31, 2024) — New York City Police Department
Felony assaults in NYC increased by 42% since 2019, with possible links to domestic violence (accounting for 40% of cases) and behavioral health crises.
2025 Trends in Crime and Safety in New York City — Brennan Center for Justice
Subway violence in NYC increased by 15% from 2019 to 2024, with felony assaults tripling since 2009, and two-thirds of victims being male, most commonly aged 25-44.
Subway Safety: What the Data Show — Vital City
High-risk subway offenders in NYC are often homeless (41% in analyses) or have histories of homelessness and mental illness (nearly two-thirds), contributing to increased recidivism in subway violence since 2019.
Subway Safety: What the Data Show — Vital City
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Identifies the suspect as 44‑year‑old Anthony Griffin and states he died after being shot twice by an officer.
- Specifies the victims’ ages and injuries: an 84‑year‑old man with face and head lacerations; a 65‑year‑old man with similar injuries plus an open skull fracture; and a 70‑year‑old woman with shoulder lacerations.
- Reports Commissioner Jessica Tisch’s statement that Griffin was 'repeatedly stating that he was Lucifer' and that officers issued more than 20 commands to drop the machete before firing.
- Notes Griffin had three prior unsealed arrests but no documented history of being an 'emotionally disturbed person' in NYPD records.
- Adds that two NYPD officers were transported with minor injuries and that Governor Kathy Hochul publicly labeled the stabbings a 'senseless act of violence' while pledging state cooperation in the investigation.