“A guy came up to me, he had a knife": Subway commuters on safety concerns

NEW YORK (PIX11) -- Commuters tell PIX11 that although some stations have noticeable police presence, some have none and this makes them question how effective the NYPD is protecting them.  

“Someone got burned on the train the other day, so I think not,” said Dave Romero, a subway rider who believes crime in the transit system is palpable.

Authorities have arrested and charged 33-year-old Sebastian Zapeta, with first degree murder and arson for allegedly setting a woman on fire who was sleeping on board an F train in Coney Island, Brooklyn Sunday.

“One of the most depraved crimes one person could possibly commit against another human being,” stated NYPD Commissioner, Jessica Tisch.

According to immigration officials, Zapeta is an undocumented Guatemalan migrant who first arrived in Arizona in June 2018 and was deported a month later. It is unclear when and where he re-entered the country.

“I would like to see more data about how the crime has improved and subway safety has improved.  Because I worry about my kids they are on their 20’s,” said Jessica Bates.

Data by the NYPD shows, crime in the transit system is down by 6.1 percent this year, from 2023. But subway riders like Dave Romero tell us the numbers do not reflect their daily commuting experience.

“A guy came up to me he had a knife, stole my phone, and when I got off the train at 103rd street at Corona Plaza, there were about 15 cops not one of them wanted to help me, they told me go back to the station where I got robbed and ask one of the officers there,” stated Romero.

And last week, Governor Kathy Hochul deployed an additional 250 National Guard troops into the subways for holiday safety, bringing the total to a thousand of these members patrolling on the nation’s largest subway system.