By: Fern Sidman
For five consecutive days, New York City’s subway system has been plagued by a disturbing wave of violent crime, despite increased patrols by the NYPD, National Guard, and the crime-preventing Guardian Angels. According to a report on Thursday in The New York Post, the surge in transit violence has included a horrifying arson death, multiple stabbings, slashings, and even a passenger being shoved onto the tracks—all painting a grim picture of the safety crisis facing millions of daily commuters.
The most shocking incident occurred on December 22, when 57-year-old Debrina Kawam from Toms River, New Jersey, was tragically killed in an arson attack on a Brooklyn F train. According to The New York Post report, her alleged attacker, Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, an illegal migrant, has been charged with first-degree murder and remains in custody.
But the violence didn’t stop there. Over the next five days, the subway system became a scene of repeated assaults: A 52-year-old man was stabbed in the arm at the Myrtle-Wyckoff L train station in Brooklyn. A 48-year-old man was slashed in the neck at the West 50th Street and Eighth Avenue station in Manhattan. Two additional commuters were attacked in separate incidents on New Year’s Day.
The week’s most alarming incident occurred on Tuesday, when Joseph Lynskey, a 45-year-old music programmer, was violently shoved onto the tracks of a Manhattan 1 train in a chilling attack caught on camera. Miraculously, Lynskey survived the fall and avoided being struck by an oncoming train.
As reported by The New York Post, police arrested 23-year-old Kamel Hawkins just hours later near Columbus Circle. Hawkins now faces charges of attempted murder and assault in connection with the attack.
This harrowing event followed two other violent incidents earlier in the week. A 30-year-old man was slashed in the arm after a dispute at the 110th Street-Cathedral Parkway station. Just 15 minutes later, a 31-year-old man was stabbed in the back at the 14th Street station. Both incidents occurred during peak hours, amplifying fears among everyday commuters who rely on the subway for their daily transportation.
An MTA worker was stabbed early Thursday morning while heading to work at the Pelham Parkway station in the Bronx, and his attacker remains at large. The violence escalated further when a 45-year-old passenger was thrown onto the subway tracks in Manhattan, highlighting just how unpredictable and dangerous the underground transit system has become.
According to the information in The New York Post, despite heightened security measures, these brutal attacks have left commuters feeling unsafe and officials scrambling for answers.
In response to the ongoing crisis, city officials have begun openly criticizing both Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams for what they describe as empty rhetoric and insufficient action.
City Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Queens) expressed her frustration in a statement reported by The New York Post: “New Yorkers do not feel safe on our subways, despite the nonsense that Gov. [Kathy] Hochul is spouting. We need to prioritize public safety over empty political rhetoric, especially now that Albany is forcing more people into public transportation thanks to their latest congestion pricing tax.”
Ariola added that deploying more National Guard troops might improve public perception, but the NYPD needs to be given more authority to effectively address crime.
Similarly, Councilman Robert Holden (D-Queens) did not hold back his criticism: “Every day, we face stabbings, shoves onto tracks, or worse, being burned alive. But Kathy Hochul says she’s ‘making our subways safer,’ and that ‘crime is down.’ New Yorkers are tired of being gaslit—and even more tired of being assaulted. We need an overhaul of city & state leadership. They don’t care about you!”
These remarks highlight the growing divide between city leadership and state officials over how to tackle the persistent issue of transit crime.
In response to rising public outcry, Governor Hochul deployed over 1,000 National Guard troops last year to patrol the subway system, while Mayor Eric Adams surged an additional 1,000 NYPD officers underground to boost security.
Despite these measures, the report in The New York Post pointed out that subway violence has only continued to escalate. Public safety advocates argue that while increased visibility of law enforcement is helpful, it has not effectively deterred violent incidents in the subway system.
The recent spate of crimes suggests a systemic issue requiring more than just temporary security deployments—it calls for policy changes, better mental health services, and more stringent crime prevention strategies.
For many New Yorkers, the subway has become synonymous with fear rather than convenience. The New York Post reported that daily commuters are now more likely to avoid late-night travel, change subway cars if they feel unsafe, and even alter their routes to avoid certain high-crime stations.
The tragic death of Debrina Kawam and the brazen attacks on innocent passengers serve as reminders of just how vulnerable subway riders can be.
While Governor Kathy Hochul insists that crime rates in the subway system are decreasing, city leaders and frustrated commuters argue that these claims do not match the daily lived reality of subway riders.
As reported by The New York Post, Hochul and Adams face increasing pressure to implement concrete safety measures rather than temporary deployments of law enforcement, as well as addressing the root causes of subway violence, including mental health crises and homelessness and Improving accountability for violent offenders.
The New York City subway system, a vital artery for millions of residents and visitors, remains under intense scrutiny. The New York Post report emphasized that while political leaders argue over strategies and optics, ordinary commuters continue to bear the brunt of the escalating violence.
Experts suggest that collaboration between city and state leadership is urgently needed, with a focus on long-term crime reduction strategies, mental health resources, and visible law enforcement presence at high-risk stations.
In the words of Councilman Robert Holden, echoed by The New York Post, “New Yorkers are tired of being gaslit—and even more tired of being assaulted.”
According to the information provided in The New York Post report, police statistics reveal a troubling 40% increase in felony assaults within the city’s transit system in the 28 days leading up to Sunday, compared to the same period in 2023.
In response to the recent surge in violence, the Guardian Angels, a civilian patrol group founded in 1979 by former mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa, have announced their return to the subway system.
As reported by The New York Post, the group will deploy three-member patrol crews around the clock at high-crime stations in an effort to root out criminal activity and reassure worried commuters.
The Guardian Angels, known for their distinctive red berets and white jackets, have long been a symbol of grassroots community action in New York City. Their decision to return reflects the mounting frustration with what many perceive as inaction or insufficient measures by city authorities.
The spike in transit violence has not gone unnoticed by local politicians, who have been vocal in their calls for decisive action.
City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (R-Brooklyn) told The New York Post, “This is a simple cause-and-effect scenario that only requires common sense to be properly addressed. Unfortunately, there is no abundance of common sense in our government right now.”
Vernikov argued that the root causes of many subway crimes lie in systemic failures to address repeat offenders, as well as broader issues involving illegal migration and untreated mental health conditions among perpetrators.
Echoing her sentiment, City Councilman Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island) added, “Maybe all the public safety kabuki theater won’t be necessary if we just go back to arresting and prosecuting bad guys.”
Both council members called attention to the need for practical legislative measures and stronger law enforcement responses to restore order in the city’s transit system.
Despite the escalating crisis and mounting public pressure, Governor Kathy Hochul’s office and City Hall officials have so far remained silent on the issue. According to the report in The New York Post, neither office responded to multiple requests for comment.
This silence has only added to the frustration of residents and city leaders, who argue that the crisis demands a clear, coordinated response from the highest levels of government.
For millions of New Yorkers who rely on the subway daily, the violence isn’t just a statistic—it’s a daily fear. Incidents such as the attempted murder of Joseph Lynskey and the stabbings at 110th Street and 14th Street stations have left lasting psychological scars on those who witnessed them and heightened anxiety among commuters citywide.
Many riders have expressed a loss of trust in the transit system, with some opting for alternative modes of transportation when possible.
The spike in transit crime has made it clear that New York City’s subway system requires immediate and sustained intervention. As highlighted by The New York Post, while civilian patrols like those of the Guardian Angels can offer temporary reassurance, they are not a substitute for systemic change and robust law enforcement measures.
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