Knifeman calling himself ‘Lucifer’ slashes three at NYC’s Grand Central

Machete Attack at Grand Central: ‘Lucifer’ Kills Three Before Being Shot

Anthony Griffin, a 44-year-old suspect, launched a random attack at New York City’s Grand Central station before being fatally shot by police. The incident disrupted train schedules at the country’s largest transit hub, leaving three individuals injured in a violent confrontation. According to authorities, the assailant’s actions were unprovoked and occurred on a subway platform.

Victims and Injuries

Griffin struck an 84-year-old man and a 65-year-old man, inflicting severe cuts to their heads and faces. A 70-year-old woman sustained shoulder injuries during the assault. All three were transported to Bellevue Hospital, where medical staff assessed their wounds as non-life-threatening.

“Innocent people were attacked in a senseless act of violence,” stated New York Governor Kathy Hochul following the incident. The governor emphasized the randomness of the attack, noting no suspected ties to terrorism.

Attack Sequence Details

NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch revealed that Griffin entered the subway system at Vernon Boulevard–Jackson Avenue in Queens on Saturday morning. He boarded the 7 train, which was heading to the Grand Central-42 Street station. The attacker first assaulted one victim on the platform before ascending to another level, where he struck two more individuals.

Transit officers responded swiftly to the threat, with one discharging his weapon after Griffin ignored repeated commands to lower the machete. The suspect advanced toward the officers with the blade extended, leading to a fatal shooting. Life-saving efforts were attempted, but Griffin was declared dead at Bellevue Hospital shortly after.

“The individual was armed with a large knife, described as a machete, and was behaving erratically, repeatedly stating that he was Lucifer,” said Tisch. She noted the suspect had disregarded at least 20 demands to drop the weapon before the confrontation escalated.

Background on the Suspect

Griffin had a history of three prior arrests but no documented records of being classified as an Emotionally Disturbed Person (EDP) by the NYPD. Authorities are currently investigating the motive behind the attack, with no immediate connection to terrorism identified. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani commended police for their quick response and confirmed the release of body camera footage as part of the inquiry.