MTA worker assaulted at Brooklyn subway station, previously the site of a fatal beating.
On Thursday, a New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) employee was attacked at the Jay St.-MetroTech subway station in downtown Brooklyn, a location recently marred by violent incidents. The 59-year-old transit worker, who was in plainclothes while on duty, encountered a dispute between two men around 12:15 a.m. When he stepped in to intervene and diffuse the situation, one of the men assaulted him, striking him in the face before fleeing the scene. Fortunately, the employee sustained only a minor injury and declined medical assistance.
This incident marks a troubling continuation of violence at the same subway station, where just two days prior, a 64-year-old security guard named Nicola Tanzi was brutally attacked and ultimately killed. According to police reports, the altercation occurred after Tanzi showed kindness by holding open a subway gate for a passenger. In a shocking escalation, 25-year-old David Mazariegos assaulted him with a series of punches and kicks, leaving Tanzi critically injured. Although medics swiftly transported him to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Brooklyn, he succumbed to his injuries within an hour and a half.
Mazariegos was apprehended later that same day in Times Square, where police discovered him in possession of a 20-inch Japanese-style katana, as well as four credit cards belonging to Tanzi. He has since been charged with murder and is awaiting arraignment in Brooklyn Criminal Court. The brazen nature of the attack has added to concerns regarding safety in New York City’s subway system, prompting calls for greater security measures in public transit areas.
As local authorities continue their search for the individual responsible for attacking the MTA employee, concerns grow regarding the safety of both transit employees and passengers. The MTA has yet to comment on these recent violent occurrences, raising questions about the protective measures in place for those working to keep the public transit system operating smoothly. The increasing frequency of violent incidents highlights an urgent need for improved safety protocols to ensure the security of both staff and commuters in New York City’s subway system.
