A man who identified himself as “Lucifer” was shot and killed by police at New York’s Grand Central Terminal on Saturday after a series of slashings that injured three elderly riders and disrupted multiple subway lines in Midtown Manhattan. The suspect, 44-year-old Anthony Griffin, died at Bellevue Hospital. Officers confronted him on the 4, 5, 6 platform and opened fire when he advanced toward them with a large knife after a standoff of at least 10 minutes. He had been transported from the scene in critical condition and was later pronounced dead. A knife was recovered.
Two responding officers were taken to a hospital in stable condition for evaluation of acoustic trauma linked to firing their weapons in an enclosed space. Investigators said the attacks appeared to be random and not terrorism-related. Authorities added that Griffin had multiple prior arrests, including menacing and slashing charges, but no documented history with the NYPD of mental illness. The department said it would release body-worn camera footage of the encounter in the coming days, and city leaders publicly thanked officers for acting quickly to prevent further harm, according to BBC News.
The episode began after Griffin entered the subway system around 9:30 a.m. local time and boarded a Manhattan-bound 7 train in Queens. He behaved erratically and told riders he was “Lucifer.” By approximately 9:50 a.m., he had arrived at Grand Central and moved onto the 4, 5, 6 platform, where he slashed three people with a large knife or machete. Police were alerted by a civilian at about 9:40 a.m. when the situation began to escalate in the station complex.
The victims
The victims were a man, 84, with significant cuts to his head and face; a man, 65, with head wounds and a skull base fracture; and a woman, 70, with a slash to her shoulder. They were taken to local hospitals. Initial reports indicated some injuries were critical, but officials later said the victims were in stable condition and expected to survive. Witnesses described Griffin as acting strangely on the train before the violence started.
When officers confronted Griffin on the platform, police said they repeatedly attempted to de-escalate. They issued at least 20 commands to drop the knife and offered assistance as he kept the blade extended while advancing on them. After a prolonged standoff, officers fired, striking him twice.
Grand Central saw immediate service disruptions. The MTA announced that uptown and downtown 4, 5, and 6 trains would skip Grand Central - 42nd Street amid the investigation, and riders were warned to expect delays and to avoid the area as police activity continued.
Family friends said Griffin had recently struggled with his mental health and that he had been carrying a machete for protectionm according to the New York Post. Some questioned the use of deadly force and said they wished officers had used a stun gun instead, while others insisted he had a right to carry the blade.