NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — A man was indicted for attempting to shoot a 35-year-old Good Samaritan and shooting a 32-year-old man on a crowded train at an Upper East Side station earlier this month, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., announced on Monday.
Steven Sylvester, 34, was charged with attempted murder, attempted assault, criminal possession of a weapon, and assault.
According to court documents, at approximately 2:25 a.m. on June 2, Sylvester got into a physical altercation with his girlfriend while onboard a crowded, northbound 4 train.
After noticing the incident, a Good Samaritan intervened by grabbing Sylvester from behind and a struggle ensued.
As the train entered the 86th Street and Lexington Avenue station and the doors opened, Sylvester pulled out a firearm and fired a shot towards the Good Samaritan, who was a few feet away, missing him. The bullet hit the train door, denting it, and hit the window of the train car, officials said.
The bullet ricocheted off the window, striking a man as he entered the train car.
The man suffered a gunshot wound to the left hand and graze wounds to the torso.
Sylvester fled the station and was arrested on June 6.
The next day, pursuant to a search warrant of his apartment, officers recovered clothing and accessories Sylvester was seen wearing at the time of the incident. They also recovered a magazine and bullets.
"As alleged, Steven Sylvester carried a loaded firearm onto a public, crowded train and intended to use it against a Good Samaritan, shooting an innocent bystander in the process," DA Bragg said. "This alleged conduct is very serious and put fellow subway riders at risk of being injured. We will continue holding people accountable who misuse our transit system as a hub for dangerous weapons and violence and I wish the victim a speedy recovery."
