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Riders at 53rd St. station where man was fatally shot say they worry about gun violence
Gothamist • • nation
Key Points:
- A man, Darrel Rodriguez, was fatally shot Saturday at the busy Midtown 53rd Street-Seventh Avenue subway station following a dispute, raising commuter concerns about persistent gun violence in the transit system.
- NYPD data shows an increase in murders and felony assaults in the subway system this year, with six murders and 525 felony assaults reported through October 11, compared to four murders and 470 assaults during the same period last year.
- Despite overall citywide murders decreasing nearly 20% year-to-date, experts note that rising felony assaults in the transit system negatively impact public perceptions of safety.
- Police are actively searching for the suspect, described as wearing a red tracksuit and black vest, but have not yet made an arrest in Rodriguez’s killing.
- Mayor Zohran Mamdani acknowledged ongoing challenges with subway safety and expressed confidence in the NYPD’s efforts to apprehend the shooter, without committing to increased police presence in the transit system.
