The person accused of slashing the neck of a subway rider aboard an L prepare in Brooklyn was arrested and charged with homicide, police mentioned — and it is not the suspect’s first run-in with the legislation for a violent offense.
Alvin Charles faces a homicide cost for the lethal Sept. 30 incident on the Atlantic Avenue station in East New York round 9 p.m. The 43-year-old man, who police mentioned was homeless, did not say something to reporters as he was taken away in handcuffs Wednesday night time by officers. After being put in the police automobile, he blew a kiss to the cameras.
Police mentioned that Charles and Tommy Bailey had been on the prepare once they bought into some form of dispute. That is when Charles took out a knife and slashed Bailey, a 43-year-old father of three, as soon as in the neck.
Bailey, who labored as a steamfitter for the Native 638, was rushed to Brookdale Hospital the place he was pronounced lifeless. What led to the dispute and the lethal slashing was not instantly clear, however a longtime buddy of Bailey’s mentioned he was the sort of man to stay up for others.
“He was on his way home after work and it seems like he ran into the wrong person on the train, and he was murdered,” mentioned buddy Tom Kelly, who labored alongside Bailey for a number of years. The 2 spoke on the telephone simply minutes earlier than the lethal encounter.
“The last thing he told me at 8:41 [p.m.] was he was on the train, and he was murdered at 8:45, they say — not even five minutes later,” Kelly advised NBC New York, saying he did not point out something was fallacious. “We can’t believe this has happened, it’s such a tragedy, and it’s such nonsense. He has three children he left behind, and they’re young and heartbroken.”
What began the dispute between the 2 males and preceded the deadly assault stays a thriller. Information 4’s Adam Harding reviews.
Pals of Bailey have been left devastated by the loss, and there may be loads of outrage as effectively. That is as a result of he mentioned the suspect, Charles, has a violent historical past
In response to police sources, information present that Charles had been arrested in the summer season of 2021 and confronted an tried homicide cost. He was additionally charged with menacing, tried assault, menacing and weapon possession. He was due again in court docket later in October.
The circumstances of that case, and why he was out on the streets, stay unclear — however left family and friends indignant and confused.
“I’m still trying to get through this, it’s not even making any sense,” Omari Barnett mentioned. “It’s just a dangerous world we’re living in.”
“We have already identified dozens of cameras that the NYPD believes may assist in the investigation of this senseless crime and we will continue to assist investigators with video and in any other way possible to ensure the perpetrator is caught,” mentioned MTA Communications Director Tim Minton.
Whereas the variety of murders in the subway system is about the identical as final yr, the variety of main felonies in transit is up almost 49% in comparison with 2021.
An investigation is ongoing.