83-year-old man shoved onto subway tracks dies, prompting murder charge for alleged assailant
NEW YORK (AP) — A man shoved onto the subway tracks in Manhattan last weekend has died from his injuries and his alleged assailant is now facing charges, authorities in New York City said Thursday.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Veteran, 83, fighting for his life after suspect pushes him, another man onto subway tracks
Richard Williams, 83, of Manhattan, died days after the Sunday incident, according to police. They said Richard had been standing on the Lexington Avenue-63 Street subway platform when a man he didn’t know shoved him from behind onto the tracks.
The assailant also shoved a 30-year-old man onto the tracks before fleeing on foot. Both victims were taken to the hospital with injuries.
Police arrested Bairon Hernandez on March 10 after seeking the public’s help in identifying the attacker, who was captured on video after the incident.
The 34-year-old Brooklyn resident was initially charged with attempted murder, assault and other charges, but in light of Williams’ death, those charges have been upgraded to murder, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office said.
Richard Williams, an 83-year-old Air Force veteran, is on life support after he and another man were pushed onto the subway tracks in New York City.
Hernandez’s public defenders declined to comment.
“We have yet to see the indictment, concluded our investigation or reviewed the expected voluminous discovery materials,” said Lupe Todd-Medina, spokesperson for New York County Defender Services.
Hernandez is a Honduran national who has been deported four times since first entering the country illegally in 2008, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
He entered the country illegally a fifth time at an unknown date and location and has a lengthy criminal history, including 15 prior charges of simple assault, domestic violence, obstruction of police, possession of a weapon, drug possession and aggravated assault, the agency said.
Hernandez “should never have been able to walk our streets and harm innocent Americans,” said Lauren Bis, a deputy assistant secretary for DHS.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
For more U.S. news, click here.
