A 25-year-old New York City commuter, Roberto Gaspar, was stabbed multiple times in the back by an unidentified suspect while on a subway train in Queens, leaving him in critical condition. The attack follows a recent fatal stabbing of Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, North Carolina, highlighting a growing concern over violence in public transit across the United States.
Gaspar, who works 10-hour shifts five days a week at a Manhattan restaurant to support his family in Guatemala, was returning home from work when the incident occurred. His friend, Tomas Calel, expressed deep concern for Gaspar’s well-being, noting the traumatic impact of the attack. ‘He is serious, he can’t talk,’ Calel said. ‘He’s in the ICU. He’s hooked up to machines.’
Security footage released by the NYPD shows the suspect, described as having a light complexion, slim build, and approximately 20 to 25 years old, flashing a toothy smile while onboard the train. ‘I’m angry. He didn’t do anything wrong,’ Cale, Calel, said. ‘I believe the attacker is a bad guy. Why did he do that? I want them to catch this guy.’
The incident has led to increased fears among commuters, with Calel now opting to travel by bike instead of the train at night. ‘Sometimes I go to work by train, sometimes I go by bike,’ Calel said. ‘I take the train at night, I come home at 10 at night. I’m afraid to take the train now because what happened to my friend could happen to me too.’
The stabbing of Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old who fled Ukraine to escape the war, occurred just weeks prior. Zarutksa was allegedly approached by Decarlos Dejaun Brown Jr. and fatally stabbed in the neck while on her way home from work at a local pizzeria. Last week, Brown was formally charged with first-degree murder in her death. The two incidents have sparked renewed calls for improved safety measures on public transit systems nationwide, as authorities encourage the public to report any suspicious activity.