FOUR people slashed, one punched in chain of attacks on NYC subway train

[The Bobster]

https://nypost.com/2021/05/14/three-slashed-one-punched-in-chain-of-attacks-on-nyc-subway/

Three people slashed, one punched in chain of attacks on NYC subway train
By Amanda Woods and Larry Celona
May 14, 2021 | 7:36am | Updated

Two men randomly attacked four strangers during a terrifying 12-minute span along three different subway stops early Friday in Manhattan, slashing three people and punching another, police said.

The violence began around 4:25 a.m. when the pair pushed a 44-year-old man sitting on a southbound 4 train, cops said.

One of the attackers flashed a knife — and slashed the straphanger across the face, police said.

The victim got off the train at Union Square and was taken to Bellevue Hospital, cops said.

The knife-wielding suspect and his accomplice stayed on board — and found a second victim, a 40-year-old man who was slashed in the face at 4:34 a.m., cops said. Another man, 41, was then punched in the face, according to police.

Both victims got off at the Astor Place station.

Three minutes later, the man with the knife slashed a 44-year-old man in the head, police said.

That victim got off at the Brooklyn Bridge subway station and was taken to New York-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital, cops said.

None of the incidents were believed to be hate crimes, cops said.

The suspects, both in their 30s, one with dreadlocks, are still on the loose.

The attacks come amid a week of rampant violence on the rails — including a 47-year-old MTA worker shoved and pushed, and a 35-year-old man slashed in separate early-morning incidents at the Times Square subway station Wednesday morning.

A few hours later, a man was sucker-punched in an unprovoked attack as he talked on the phone at the Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center subway station.

 

[The Bobster]

Re: Three people slashed, one punched in chain of attacks on NYC subway train

https://nypost.com/2021/05/14/suspects-arrested-after-string-of-nyc-subway-slashings/

Suspects collared for terrifying NYC subway slashing spree
By Georgett Roberts, Larry Celona, Joe Marino and Natalie Musumeci
May 14, 2021 | 2:36pm | Updated

Four suspects were collared Friday in a horrific string of random early-morning subway slashings in Manhattan that left one victim knifed in the eye, police said.

A 12-inch serrated kitchen knife that cops believe was used in the crimes has been recovered, law-enforcement sources said.

Charges were pending against the suspects – one of whom police say was previously arrested in January in connection with a similar knifepoint robbery and released on his own recognizance for that crime. Two of the suspects are juveniles, sources said.

“I am happy to report that we have a number of people in custody at this time that we believe are responsible for the incidents,” NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said during a press conference outside Transit District 1 near Central Park, about 12 hours after the first incident.

Shea said “sharp-eyed police work” and images of the suspects gleaned from MTA cameras led to the busts. At least some of those apprehended were wearing white surgical masks when nabbed, police said.

Police officials say the terrifying subterranean crime spree began after 4:20 a.m. when a 44-year-old man sitting on a southbound No. 4 train was approached by three to five goons and then slashed in the face at the Union Square stop.

The victim exited the train at that station, and the thugs continued riding, carrying out their next attack about 5 minutes later as the train approached the Astor Place stop.

The suspects attacked two other men on the train there, punching a 41-year-old in the face, causing a cut, and slashing another man in the nose.

Those two victims exited the train at Astor Place.

About 5 minutes later, the thugs targeted a 44-year-old man boarding the No. 4 train and slashed him across the left cheek, said NYPD Deputy Inspector Steven Hill.

The suspects also robbed that victim of his wallet and cell phone, police said. The robbers eventually tossed the phone away on the tracks after futilely trying to open it, sources said.

The victim exited the train at the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall station, “and the suspects, one again, remained on the train as it proceeded southbound,” said Hill.

About 30 minutes later, a 48-year-old man was near 59th Street and Columbus Circle when he said “a group of males did approach him and proceeded to stab him in the right eye with a knife,” Hill said.

The victim was taken to an area hospital where he was in stable condition and underwent surgery.

 

[The Bobster]

Re: Three people slashed, one punched in chain of attacks on NYC subway train

https://nypost.com/2021/05/15/nyc-subway-slash-suspect-kicked-out-of-friends-pad-ex-pal/

Teen subway slash suspect was kicked out of friend’s Bronx pad: ex-pal
By Lorena Mongelli and Dean Balsamini
May 15, 2021 | 7:29pm | Updated

Jahntonio Grant, 23, is a former friend and roommate of Joseph Foster, 18, who is charged with slashing people on the subway. Grant said Foster lived with him for a few months and had to kick him out because he was trouble. Kevin C. Downs for NY Post


One of the accused subway slashers who went on a rampage through the transit system is a former foster child who was crashing at his pal’s Bronx home — until the friend kicked him out, The Post has learned.

Joseph Foster, 18, crashed at friend Jahntonio Grant’s apartment in the Soundview Houses until December, when Grant gave him the boot, he told The Post.

Grant, 23, said Foster has no family in the building and was in the city’s foster care system but had signed himself out. He wanted to help the teen because they both went through the foster care system, Grant said.

“I was introduced to him by someone. I had him staying in my crib for a little bit and started to see red flags,” Grant said.

Grant wouldn’t specify what “red flags” he saw, but noted Foster “wasn’t appreciative of the help he was being given.”

Taquarious Soto-Burgos, 19, (right) and Joseph Foster (left) are believed to be part of the subway crime spree on that took place on the 4 train.
Seth Gottfried for NY Post


Foster “seemed like an OK person at the time — that’s why I wanted to help him,” Grant said.

“That’s crazy that all that stuff ended up happening,” Grant said of the subway slashings. “He was pretty chill, yeah he had his fair share of issues but who doesn’t?”

Foster was one of four suspects collared Friday in a horrific string of random early-morning subway slashings in Manhattan, police said.

Three of the suspects — including Foster — were awaiting arraignment Saturday in Manhattan Criminal Court.

Another person in custody is not being charged and was cooperative in the investigation, according to sources. The NYPD on Saturday released surveillance video and an image of another wanted suspect.
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Suspects collared for terrifying NYC subway slashing spree

Grant said he was surprised to learn about Foster’s arrest because he had picked up small side jobs to make money and had a girlfriend.

“If all this time he’s been doing stuff like this then I don’t think there’s no reform….I’m a little disappointed. He’s not someone I would ever extend my help to ever again,” Grant said.

Said Grant: “Given that he went down that road, that bad path, I hope something clicks in him and some sort of change follows.”

Foster now faces one count of robbery and criminal possession of a weapon.

Foster has an open case in The Bronx, according to public records, and was freed without bail in connection with a January arrest for a similar incident, law enforcement sources told The Post.

 

[The Bobster]

https://nypost.com/2021/05/15/nypd-releases-surveillance-video-of-subway-slashing-suspect/

NYPD releases surveillance video of another subway slashing suspect
By Dean Balsamini and Tina Moore
May 15, 2021 | 2:32pm | Updated

Police are asking for the public’s help in their search for a fourth suspect in a series of subway slashings in Manhattan.

Cops have charged three suspects, including a 16-year-old, with the shocking crimes that left at least four people hurt, including one who was knifed in the eye, police said.

Four alleged attackers were originally collared Friday in the horrific string of random early-morning subway slashings, though one of those suspects is cooperating with the investigation and is not being charged, sources said.

A 12-inch serrated kitchen knife cops believe was used in the crimes has been recovered, law-enforcement sources said.

Taquarious Soto-Burgos, 19, of Brooklyn, faces two counts of robbery and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon; Joseph Foster, 18, of the Bronx faces one count of robbery and criminal possession of a weapon; and an unidentified 16-year-old faces two counts of robbery, assault and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, police said.

The NYPD is still looking for the person in this photo.
DCPI


The NYPD ask that anyone with information call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

Taquarious Soto-Burgos, 19, (pink hair and glasses) and Joseph Foster (camo pants and hood) are believed to be part of a subway crime spree that took place on the 4 train.
Seth Gottfried for NY Post

 

[The Bobster]

https://nypost.com/2021/05/16/suspect-in-subway-slashing-spree-caught-with-bloody-knife/

Suspect in subway slashing spree caught with victim’s backpack and bloody knife
By Kevin Sheehan and David Meyer
May 16, 2021 | 1:39pm | Updated

One of the suspects in Friday’s terrifying Manhattan subway slashing spree was nabbed with one victim’s stolen backpack — and the bloodied kitchen knife allegedly used in the attacks, prosecutors said Sunday.

Joseph Foster, 18, was charged Sunday with first-degree robbery, two counts of second-degree robbery and criminal possession of a weapon for his role in the reign of terror underground, including a slashing on a D train that left a sleeping straphanger blind in one eye.

Subway surveillance footage showed another victim, one of five people targeted that morning, trying to escape from a train — and Foster allegedly dragging him back inside, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Katherine Byrns said.

Foster was held on $250,000 bail at his arraignment Sunday afternoon.

He and his accomplices are accused in four separate slashings that occurred Friday morning along the 6 and D train lines in Manhattan in what prosecutors said was a “gang initiation.”

Jahntonio Grant (above) lived with Joseph Foster before kicking him out.
Kevin C. Downs


Foster had the blinded victim’s stolen backpack when cops arrested him, prosecutors said. They found the serrated kitchen knife allegedly used in the attacks inside.

The teen had also been collared on January 13 on first-degree robbery charges for an alleged knifepoint mugging and stabbing of a cyclist. He was released without bail at the time.

Defense attorney Patricia Wright on Sunday pleaded to Judge James Burke for leniency in setting bail, insisting “there are no injuries caused by [Foster’s] involvement.”

“He has a 3-year-old daughter. He graduated high school. Track and field, played football,” Wright said. “He was released on supervised release. He has a history of perfect attendance with his cases. Monetary bail is not necessary.”

Foster and his pals “embarked on a violent robbery spree” just after 4 a.m. Friday that began with multiple thefts at 53rd Street and Lexington Avenue before continuing south, prosecutors said.

“This defendant slashed one individual in the face, while one of his separately charged defendants screamed, ‘Do it again,’” at Union Square, Byrns said.

The rampage continued at Astor Place, Brooklyn Bridge and later the D train, Byrns said.

Foster is being charged along with an unnamed 16-year-old minor, who was charged Saturday night, and Taquarious Soto-Burgos, who is set to be arraigned later Sunday.