Police: Suspect In Fatal Subway Push Charged With Murder
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A suspect was arrested Wednesday in connection with the death of a subway rider who police said was pushed in front of a train in Manhattan earlier this week.
Naeem Davis, 30, was charged with second-degree intentional murder and second-degree depraved indifference murder, police said.
Naeem's arraignment was held at the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse Wednesday night. He was ordered held without bail.
It came on the same day the family of 58-year-old victim Ki-Suck Han of Queens spoke out about what happened. Han's family held a news conference to thank those who have offered them support.
Joined by New York City Comptroller John Liu and other community leaders, Han's widow had tears in her eyes as she held a picture of her late husband and read a statement in Korean.
WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reports
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"Our family is grieving now, but we want to thank everyone who has reached out to us to offer their help," said the couple's teen daughter, Ashley, a junior at Hunter College.
Han was a citizen of Korea living in Elmhurst with his wife and daughter. Police said he had come to Midtown to renew his passport.
Ashley said her father always wanted to pursue the American dream and was always there for her.
"We are suffering in sorrow," she said. "I just wish I had one more chance to tell my dad how much I loved him."
Ashley Han was asked whether it's upsetting that people apparently did not go to her father's aid.
"I don't really want to dwell on what could have happened. I mean, yeah, the thought of someone helping him up in a matter of seconds would have been great. But like I said, what happened has happened," Ashley said.
Friends said before he was killed, Han was going through some tough times.
"Due to the economy, Mr. Han was in search of a new beginning and opportunity to provide for his family when he was met with this horrific tragedy," said his pastor, the Rev. Won Tae Cho of the Woori Presbyterian Church.
Family and friends were united in tragedy at Han's wake in Queens Wednesday night. Even people who didn't know Han came to pay respects.
"We have to be careful, and then we have to watch each other, help each other also," said mourner John Park. "It could happen anytime, anyplace."
WCBS 880's Marla Diamond reports
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Police said Davis was identified by witnesses in lineups.
Davis was initially taken into custody Tuesday near 50th Street and Seventh Avenue after police said detectives saw security video that showed a man fitting the description of the suspect near Rockefeller Center.
Police said Davis implicated himself in Han's death while being questioned Tuesday night.
Han was hit by a southbound "Q" train at the 49th Street station after getting into an altercation with the suspect on the subway platform, police said.
In cell phone video released by police, authorities believe Davis can be seen arguing with the victim, telling him "Take your [expletive] over there, stand on line, wait for the R train."
After being pushed onto the tracks, Han tried to scramble back onto the platform but was crushed by the oncoming train, police said.
Police said Davis is homeless. He is known by some in the area as someone who assisted sidewalk vendors. Others described him as a panhandler who seemed mentally disturbed and was often seen talking to himself.
He had shaved off his dreadlocks that he'd had for years, according to a newsstand vendor who spoke to him Tuesday morning while she looked at a newspaper with an image of the suspect.
Police sources said Davis claimed it was Han who pushed him first, and that he shoved Han back to get Han away from him. Davis told police he never meant to kill Han and didn't know the train was coming.
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