A Bronx man is accused of flying into a rage on a southbound No. 5 train as it approached the Fulton Street station around 6:10 a.m. The incident reportedly occurred when the elderly victim tripped over his foot, according to law enforcement officials and the District Attorney’s office. The man, identified as Earl, then allegedly punched the senior citizen in the face, leading to a physical altercation that culminated in Earl placing the victim in a chokehold and continuing to strike him. These details were presented by an assistant district attorney during Earl’s arraignment on January 2.
The violent attack resulted in the victim sustaining cuts to his face and head. After the incident, the victim sought medical attention at Kings County Hospital Center. Further investigation revealed that Earl had a prior arrest in the Bronx in July for assaulting a security guard at a 99-cent store.
During that altercation, Earl reportedly angrily questioned why the victim was not attending to him. In response to the incident, Earl’s case was adjourned in contemplation of dismissal, although the reasons for this decision remain unclear. Additionally, Earl was instructed to maintain a distance from the victim by Bronx prosecutors.
Law enforcement sources disclosed that Earl has been arrested on at least four occasions for assault dating back to 1999. In total, he has been arrested 14 times, with four of those arrests related to alleged assault. Earl has also faced charges in the past for criminal possession of a weapon and marijuana possession.
Earl’s Legal Aid Attorney, Lizzie-anne Beal, provided limited commentary when contacted by The Post, stating, “I will just say that he was rightfully released.” Earl is scheduled to appear in court next on February 27, according to available records.
This incident adds to a concerning trend of violence within the city’s transit system. Other recent incidents include a woman tragically being burned to death, a man being pushed in front of a train, and multiple stabbings and slashings. In 2024, the NYPD’s transit bureau recorded 579 felony assaults, slightly surpassing the previous year’s figures based on preliminary data.
Furthermore, authorities reported ten murders on the transit system in the past year, matching a peak set in 2022. Despite the rise in violent crimes, overall major crime in the transit system decreased by 5.4% compared to 2023.
