NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — The MTA workers who helped bring subway passengers to safety during Tuesday's subway shooting in Brooklyn were honored on Friday by New York City Mayor Eric Adams with a special proclamation heralding their efforts.
Adams, who remains isolated after testing positive for COVID-19 last weekend, held the ceremony virtually at City Hall.
"I want to thank some of the heroes who were there on the scene, and we're going to continue to acknowledge those in the upcoming days for the actions that they took during this difficult time," Adams said.
Transit workers David Artis, Raven Haynes, Joseph Franchi, Dayron Williams and Parla Mejia received proclamations, officially marking April 15, 2022 as their day for safely and calmly ushering New Yorkers to safety.
"You all personified what's great about our subway system and our MTA system overall. I want to thank you for your service to your city and your bravery on that morning," Adams said.
He added, "When bullets were flying, 33 to be exact, you stayed calm, stayed focused, and you saved lives. Calm, focused, and you saved lives. Thanks to you, no passenger was left behind. No lives were lost. Thanks to you, our city keeps running every day, day after day."
Artis, who was the N train operator as the terror unfolded at the 36th Street Station in Sunset Park, told WCBS 880 about the moment he heard shots ring out.
"When it first happened, [I was] like, 'Oh my god. Then it kicked in [to] get them out," he said.
Haynes, the N train conductor, credited her stoic demeanor with calmly keeping her passengers safe.
She said she's been ready to go back to work since the mass shooting.
"No, I told everybody I'm going back to work as soon as I can go back to work, I would have went back to work today," Haynes added.
Adams praised TWU 100 leaders and MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber, who was also in attendance at Friday's event, and New York City for showing "the entire globe what our city is and has always been about: courage, heroism, quick thinking and decisive action."
In a statement, Lieber also gave special praise to Artis, Haynes and the three other transit workers for their actions.
"These quick-thinking and caring train crews and [a] bus operator moved riders to safety and kept them away from a potential threat zone," Lieber said.
The ceremony took place a day after the suspected gunman, Frank R. James, was ordered held without bond and facing federal charges in connection with the rampage, which left 23 people injured, including the ten who were shot. Miraculously, none of the injuries were life-threatening.
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