NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — A 50-year-old Bronx man has been arrested in connection with a subway fire that killed a hero train operator and left more than a dozen people injured in Harlem earlier this year.
The NYPD announced Friday that Nathaniel Avinger was initially taken into custody on an unrelated charge, but now faces a murder charge in connection to the deadly March 27 subway arson.
Police said the fire was intentionally set in the second car of a 2 train at 110th Street and Lenox Avenue around 3 a.m.
The deadly fire was one of four set that morning on the same subway line at the 86th, 96th, 110th and 116th street stations.
Authorities said 36-year-old train operator Garrett Goble, of Brooklyn, was found dead on the tracks after he helped passengers escape the train.
“A young man serving the public during a national crisis was killed at just 36 years of age," TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano said in a statement at the time. “Our conductor acted heroically to move passengers to the platform out of danger, and deserves our deepest thanks and support for his bravery. This incident once again points out many life-threatening dangers that await transit workers across the city when they go to their jobs every day, 24 hours a day. This is a sad day for our entire City. We’re devastated.”
Sixteen people, including firefighters, were hurt. Several subway riders suffered smoke inhalation.
Goble, a husband and father, had been with the agency for six years.
New York City Transit Interim President Sarah Feinberg expressed relief over the arrest.
"Obviously it doesn't bring Garrett back, our hearts have ben broken for nine months over this," Feinberg told WCBS 880's Paul Murnane. "I was speaking with Garrett's wife, Delilah, this morning and we both just feel such a feeling of relief to have at least this piece over and to have this arrest behind us."
Feinberg said she was grateful to the NYPD for their relentless persistence and hard work on the case.
"Even thought it's taken many, many months they stayed focused and today was really good step," Feinberg said.
Goble's death raised many questions about the safety of transit workers and Feinberg said the MTA wants a heftier security presence in the system to keep the workforce safe.
"We have put our own MTA Police into the subway system at a larger number than they've ever been before, we're working closely with the NYPD as we always have, and we've even put some security contractors into the system — uniformed security guards — to be additional eyes and ears in the system," Feinberg said.
Every day there are new reports of worker assaults, according to Feinberg, who said, "None of us should have any kind of tolerance for this."
She said the MTA has been working close with the district attorney's office to make sure those who attack transit workers are held accountable and even ban them from the system if necessary.
"We should not have to tolerate folks coming into the system who can bring them harm," Feinberg said.
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