Woman Dies After Being Shoved Onto Subway Tracks At Times Square; Suspect Charged
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A 49-year-old woman died Monday afternoon after being shoved in front of a subway train in Times Square, and another woman was taken into police custody and later charged.
The suspect -- identified as Melanie Liverpool of Queens -- was charged with second-degree murder late Monday, police said. As CBS2's Valerie Castro reported, the attack left straphangers in shock.
The attack happened on the southbound No. 1 platform at 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue around 1:20 p.m. Monday.
As CBS2's Alice Gainer reported, a large section underground at the sprawling Times Square-42nd Street subway station was cordoned off by police following the attack.
"A woman was pushed to her death in the front of an incoming 1 Train," said NYPD Transit Chief Joseph Fox.
Police said within moments, they had a 30-year-old woman in custody.
"The people that were on that platform did exactly what we wanted them to. If they saw something, they said something," said NYPD Chief of Manhattan South Detectives William Aubry, "and they saw this woman push another woman, and they flagged down two police officers that were standing on the platform."
Police sources told CBS2 the incident was unprovoked. Officers late Monday afternoon were talking to witnesses who said they heard a quarrel, sources said.
The suspect was confirmed to have a history of psychiatric issues, and police believe she may have been talking or yelling to herself, sources said.
Commuters who came into the station after the incident seemed rattled.
"I'll be aware all the time," said East Village commuter Albert Sousa. "I don't take a chance because you never know who is next to you."
Police late Monday had not released the name of the woman who was killed in the incident.