'Subway Slasher' Claims He Was Attacked First
The Grand Central Terminal platform was crowded, loud, and busy — just like any weekday at 7:20 a.m. But within seconds, a typical Manhattan morning turned into a bloody rush-hour scene. Two men were stabbed aboard a southbound No. 5 train, and one of them wasn't even part of the original fight.
What Sparked the Chaos?
According to prosecutors, the accused, 30-year-old Gavin Ferguson of the Bronx, lashed out after another commuter allegedly stepped on his shoes — a perceived slight that he interpreted as disrespect.
Ferguson allegedly denied involvement at first but later told investigators he stabbed the man because of the shoe-stepping incident, as revealed in court.
Surveillance video cited in a criminal complaint reportedly shows Ferguson punching a 28-year-old man who had stepped aside to let him exit the train. That confrontation escalated when Ferguson allegedly pulled out a distinctive knife with a pink and purple handle and stabbed the man in the stomach.
When a 32-year-old man intervened — giving the first victim a chance to flee — he was reportedly stabbed in both the abdomen and buttocks. Prosecutors say he even leapt onto a bench in a desperate attempt to avoid the knife.
The Aftermath
Both victims were taken to Bellevue Hospital and listed in stable condition.
Police say Ferguson fled but was located hours later at his job — still carrying the knife used in the incident. Authorities also reported that Ferguson had changed his clothes but made one crucial mistake: he left his phone behind on the train.
He allegedly called the phone afterward and asked for it to be returned, helping detectives track him down.
In court, Ferguson was arraigned on charges including attempted murder, assault, and attempted assault. Prosecutors requested he be held without bail, but Judge Louis L. Nock set bail at $500,000 cash or $750,000 bond.
Competing Narratives
While prosecutors have described the stabbing as unprovoked, Ferguson's attorney, Paul D'Emilia, disputes that version. He claims Ferguson, a full-time plumber, was harassed by one of the men and only fought back after being spit on and punched by both individuals.
D'Emilia also emphasized that this is Ferguson's first interaction with the criminal justice system and that he has been in the United States since he was 15 years old. "We are confident that when details of the assault on Mr. Ferguson are presented to the District Attorney he will be exonerated," he told the New York Post.
The Investigation Continues
If convicted, Ferguson could face between 5 and 25 years in prison.
Until then, the case remains open and under investigation, and the legal system will determine whether the attack was a reaction to real threats or a violent overreaction to a crowded commute.
References: NYC maniac accused of stabbing 2 men on board rush-hour train at Grand Central claims he lashed out over shoe-stepping incident: DA | Suspect arrested in horrific NYC rush-hour subway stabbing that injured 2
