A 14-year-old boy was stabbed to death Saturday afternoon inside a Harlem train station, officials said, adding to a wave of violent attacks on New City’s subway system. York has worried riders in recent months.
Police were called to the 137th Street-City College station around 3 p.m. and when officers arrived, they found the teenager on a platform north of 1st Street with a stab wound to the stomach. Police said he was taken to Mount Sinai Morningside hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police officials did not identify the victim and said no one had been charged. Police said they believe the boy and his attacker know each other, although they do not know the motive.
Those episodes have subway riders worried about their safety at a difficult time for the transportation system. The attacks have also caused a major political problem for Mayor Eric Adams, who has vowed during his campaign to make the city safer.
In surveys, subway riders and employers have said that subway safety is a top concern. About 74% of commuters say they feel less safe using public transit than they did before the pandemic. According to a survey in March by Partnership for New York City, an influential business group.
Beyond those concerns, many riders still fear the spread of the coronavirus. About 79% of subway riders who haven’t returned to the train say social distancing is one of the top factors keeping them away, according to a customer survey conducted in the fall.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which is facing a potential crisis following massive revenue losses during the pandemic, desperately needs motorists back into its system. State and federal infusions during the pandemic have helped the agency avert a projected deficit of $2 billion by 2026.
