A 23-year-old man is in custody after allegedly pushing a New York City subway rider onto the tracks in front of an oncoming train on New Year’s Eve, police said.
The victim, 45-year-old Joseph Lynskey from Manhattan, survived but is hospitalized with serious injuries, including a fractured skull, broken ribs, and a ruptured spleen, according to The New York Times... Continue reading here ▶
The incident happened around 1:30 p.m. at the 18th Street subway station in Chelsea. Lynskey was waiting for the train when he was allegedly pushed onto the tracks, the NYPD reported. Emergency responders rushed him to a local hospital, where he is in stable condition.
Surveillance footage shared by ABC7 Eyewitness News shows Lynskey standing near the edge of the platform before a man suddenly shoves him onto the tracks and runs away.
Less than an hour later, police arrested 23-year-old Kamel Hawkins from Brooklyn. He has been charged with second-degree attempted murder and assault.
Hawkins appeared in court on January 1, pleaded not guilty, and was ordered to remain in custody until his next court date on January 6.
Authorities believe Lynskey survived because the train did not hit him head-on, and he fell beside it instead of underneath, according to The New York Times.
Lynskey, who performs as a DJ under the name Joe Usher, has a long recovery ahead. His friends have started a GoFundMe campaign to help cover his medical expenses.
Fellow DJ Jonjon Battles wrote, “Somehow, he miraculously survived, and we are beyond thankful he’s still with us. Joe is in good spirits but has a tough road ahead.”
Lynskey’s career began in Miami’s South Beach before he moved to Manhattan, where he performed at underground clubs and worked on events for major brands like Sony Pictures, Nike, and MoMA.
Police believe the attack was random. Two months earlier, Hawkins was charged with harassing a woman and throwing bleach on her but was released without bail, according to The New York Daily News.
Lynskey’s sister, Eileen Parsons, expressed gratitude for his survival, saying, “Our main focus is supporting Joe. We are so thankful he’s alive.”
