Suspect Indicted In Fatal UES Subway Shove, Prosecutors Say

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — The suspect accused of shoving two New Yorkers onto the train tracks at an Upper East Side subway station was indicted on murder charges Monday, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said.

The suspect, 34-year-old Bairon Hernandez, was first arrested and charged with attempted murder, but now that one of the victims has died, his charges have been upgraded to murder in the second degree, Bragg said.

According to the NYPD, the suspect first pushed a 30-year-old man and then an 83-year-old man onto the tracks on the Southbound F and Q line on Sunday at approximately 11:30 a.m., at the Lexington Avenue-63 Street subway station on March 8.

Then, the suspect left the station and ran away, police said.

Medics rushed both men to NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, where the 30-year-old was listed in stable condition. Richard Williams, the 83-year-old victim, never regained consciousness and was on life support for nine days before he died on March 17.

"Two New Yorkers were waiting for the subway on a Sunday morning when they were shoved into the tracks, allegedly by Bairon Hernandez. He used such force that he killed Richard Williams, an 83-year-old veteran," Bragg said.

"I hope the survivor continues to heal from this abhorrent assault, and my thoughts are with the loved ones of Mr. Williams who are mourning his tragic loss."

For questions, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.

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