Suspect Arrested In Harlem Subway Arson Fire That Killed Motorman

HARLEM, NY — Police arrested a Bronx man Friday and charged him with murder in connection with the March arson fire at a Harlem subway station that killed an MTA motorman and injured 17 others.

Nathaniel Avinger, 50, was arrested shortly before 1 a.m. Friday. According to the NYPD, Avinger had been taken into custody Wednesday for an unrelated forcible touching offense in Brooklyn, before detectives investigated further and arrested him for the March 27 subway fire.

The early-morning fire at the Central Park North–110th Street station killed 36-year-old train operator Garrett Goble, who helped riders flee the station before being found unconscious on the tracks, authorities said. He was later pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Representatives for the Transit Workers Union called Goble's efforts "heroic."

"March 27th was one of the darkest, most painful days in New York City Transit history. Since that day our hearts have been broken. NYCT has grieved and mourned Garrett Goble every single day for the last 9 months," acting NYCT President Sarah Feinberg said in a statement Friday.

Feinberg said the agency had been in touch with Goble's mother, Vicki, and his widow, Delilah, who told THE CITY in June that she remained baffled about the circumstances of her husband's death, and why no arrests had been made.

We’ve waited for this day for a long time. Nothing can bring our colleague Garrett back to his wife, his sons, his mother, or to his friends at @NYCTSubway but this is a good day and we are grateful. https://t.co/BgXCDhjlBJ
— Sarah Feinberg (@FeinbergSarah) December 18, 2020

Days after the fire, police questioned Avinger, who was considered a person of interest and had a long history of crime troubles, but did not make any arrests. Police had offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a suspect.

Goble is also survived by two sons.

"Nothing will bring Garrett back to NYCT or to his sweet family," Feinberg said. "We are grateful to the police for their relentless persistence and hard work on this case."

Goble's death compounded what was already a harrowing time for MTA employees, 126 of whom died from COVID-19 this year.

Previous coverage from Patch:

• Harlem Subway Station Reopens Following Fatal Fire, MTA Says
• Harlem Fire That Killed MTA Conductor Deemed Homicide, Police Say
• Police Question Man For Deadly Harlem Subway Fire: Report