Man Fatally Shot by Police After Machete Attack at Grand Central Station

Three people injured in random assault before officers intervened

Apr. 11, 2026 at 8:06pm

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An extreme close-up of a machete blade reflecting a harsh, direct camera flash, conveying the stark, gritty, and investigative nature of this crime scene.A grim reminder of the need for heightened security measures to protect New Yorkers from random acts of violence in the subway system.Manhattan Today

A 44-year-old man was fatally shot by police after he slashed three people with a machete in a random attack at New York City's Grand Central subway station on Saturday morning. The victims, ranging in age from 65 to 84, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to the hospital for treatment.

Why it matters

The incident highlights ongoing concerns about public safety in the New York City subway system, which has seen a decline in crime over the past year but remains a focus of attention for law enforcement and city officials. The attack also comes as the city works to increase police presence in the transit network.

The details

According to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the suspect, identified as Anthony Griffin, boarded a 7 train in Queens and exited at Grand Central, where he first slashed an 84-year-old man on a platform before heading upstairs and attacking a 65-year-old man and a 70-year-old woman on the 4, 5 and 6 train platform. Griffin reportedly called himself 'Lucifer' during the attacks. Two detectives working in the station confronted Griffin, ordering him to drop the machete over 20 times before one officer shot him twice, fatally wounding him.

  • The incident occurred around 9:40 a.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
  • Griffin had boarded the 7 train just 10 minutes before the attack.

The players

Jessica Tisch

The New York City Police Commissioner who provided details about the incident at a news conference.

Anthony Griffin

A 44-year-old man who carried out the machete attack at Grand Central Station before being fatally shot by police.

Zohran Mamdani

The Mayor of New York City, who thanked the police officers for their response and said an internal investigation was underway.

Kathy Hochul

The Governor of New York, who has allocated $77 million in her proposed 2027 budget to increase police presence in the subway system.

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What they’re saying

“New Yorkers deserve to feel safe every time they step onto a train platform, and we will do everything it takes to protect them.”

— Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York

“The officers 'gave clear demands, they attempted to de-escalate,' and 'when that threat did not stop, they took decisive action to stop it and to protect New Yorkers on one of the busiest train platforms in the city.'”

— Jessica Tisch, Police Commissioner

What’s next

The NYPD will release the officers' body-camera footage as part of the internal investigation into the shooting.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the ongoing challenges of maintaining public safety in New York City's subway system, even as overall crime rates have declined. The city's efforts to increase police presence in the transit network aim to reassure commuters, but random acts of violence like this highlight the need for continued vigilance and de-escalation training for officers.