Grand Central stabbing: Man with machete shot dead after 3 slashed

Grand Central stabbing: NYPD gives update

NYPD holds a news briefing after police shot a knife-wielding suspect at Grand Central. Multiple people were stabbed. 

NEW YORK - New York Police said a man with a machete was shot and has died Saturday after slashing three random older adults at Grand Central that morning. 

Officers were first made aware of the injuries at 9:40 a.m. and saw a person on the 456 platform with a knife. NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch said officers ordered the suspect to drop the knife "at least 20" times, and repeatedly offered assistance to de-escalate the situation.

NYPD held up this image of a weapon Saturday morning as they spoke on a machete slashing at Grand Central that injured three people. 

But when the suspect allegedly advanced towards the officers, one fired and hit the suspect twice, Tisch said.

The suspect, identified as 44-year-old Anthony Griffin, died later at the hospital. 

Grand Central stabbing

Timeline:

Griffin entered the subway station at Vernon Boulevard in Queens at around 9:30 a.m., Tisch said. He then boarded a 7 train to Grand Central Station. 

"Once there, he slashed one individual on the 7 train platform before moving upstairs to the 456 platform, where he slashed two additional victims," Tisch said. 

Dig deeper:

Three people were stabbed: an 84-year-old man, a 70-year-old woman and a 65-year-old man. All three victims are hospitalized, and the injuries are not, at this time, believed to be life-threatening. 

Tisch said the 84-year-old victim was cut several times on his head and face on the 7 train platform.

The 65-year-old victim had similar injuries, plus an open skull fracture. And the 70-year-old woman was cut on her shoulder, Tisch said. 

The victims' identities were not given. 

What they're saying:

Tisch said at a news conference Saturday afternoon that the suspect was behaving erratically and repeatedly stated that he was "Lucifer."

"Our officers were confronted with an armed individual who had already injured multiple people and was continuing to pose a threat. They gave clear commands they attempted to de-escalate; and when that threat didn't stop, they took decisive action to stop it and protect New Yorkers on one of the busiest train platforms in the city," Tisch added. 

She said this incident is an example of why NYPD has recently increased its presence on the transit system.

She said more than 175 additional officers were added to subway patrol, in addition to transit overtime posts. 

Additionally, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed on social media their gratitude to the officers for their quick efforts and response.