Homeless Man, 41, Sentenced for Pushing Student in Front of Metro-North Train

Homeless man Howard Mickens, 41, was sentenced to 25 years in prison - the maximum allowed - in connection with his guilty plea in the case of pushing Hunter College student Maya Leggat in front of a Metro-North train in White Plains.

Leggat suffered serious injuries, including a broken back, but she survived the attack.

“Without any warning or prior interaction, this defendant pushed a young woman on her way to school in front of a moving commuter train,” said Westchester District Attorney Janet DiFiore in a statement. “While this young woman’s quick and clear headed thinking saved her life, this defendant will now be held to account for his actions and serve the maximum sentence allowed by law.”

Mickens was detained at the scene and arrested. Witnesses helped identify him to police as he tried to flee the 11 a.m. attack.

Below is DiFiore’s full announcement about the sentencing:

Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced that Howard Mickens (DOB 01/18/74) of Homeless, White Plains, New York was sentenced to a determinate term of 25 years in prison on his December 2014 guilty plea to one count of:

• one count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a class “B” Felony,

relating to pushing Maya Leggat in front of a Metro-North Railroad train.

“Without any warning or prior interaction, this defendant pushed a young woman on her way to school in front of a moving commuter train. While this young woman’s quick and clear headed thinking saved her life, this defendant will now be held to account for his actions and serve the maximum sentence allowed by law,” said District Attorney Janet DiFiore.

On September 25, 2013, at approximately 11:00 a.m., the defendant and the victim were on the platform at the Metro North White Plains train station. As a train was entering the station, the defendant approached the victim from behind and pushed her into the path of the oncoming train.

The victim was then struck by the train, resulting in numerous injuries, including a broken back, a severed finger, multiple broken bones and lacerations across her body. The train’s operator put the train into emergency mode and contacted dispatchers.

The defendant then attempted to flee the scene, walking away from the platform and down a set of stairs. Several witnesses to the incident followed him and shouted for the police. Upon seeing two Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) police officers, the witnesses shouted to the officers that the defendant had just pushed a woman in front of the train. One officer then took defendant into custody, while the other went to the victim to provide medical assistance. The officer and other emergency personnel who arrived on the scene provided the victim with first aid and she was then transported to the hospital.

The defendant was detained at the scene for a brief period of time and subsequently placed under arrest.

Assistant District Attorney Timothy Ward, Deputy Division Chief of the Superior Court Trial Division prosecuted the case.

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