Chilling video footage has emerged showing a man being shoved onto the subway tracks in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood—right into the path of an oncoming train. The dramatic incident occurred on New Year’s Eve at the 8th Street subway station, and it’s nothing short of a miracle that the victim survived.
The suspect, identified as 23-year-old Kamel Hawkins of Brooklyn, was quickly apprehended by New York City Transit Police thanks to surveillance footage. Hawkins has been charged with attempted murder and assault and is being held without bail at the Eric M. Taylor Center. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison. Authorities confirmed that the victim, 45-year-old Joseph Lynskey, did not know his attacker.
Witnesses and law enforcement alike have marveled at Lynskey’s survival. Video shows Hawkins creeping up behind him and violently pushing him off the platform as a train barreled into the station. Remarkably, Lynskey fell into the trench between the tracks, avoiding the deadly impact.
“By God’s own hand, he fell perfectly in the trench,” a law enforcement source told the New York Post. Lynskey suffered a fractured skull, broken ribs, and a ruptured spleen but was listed in stable condition at Bellevue Hospital. City Council member Erik Bottcher echoed the sentiment, saying, “If you look at the video, you wonder how he could have survived, so against all odds, he is going to survive.”
A man was just randomly pushed in front of a NYC Subway train, on Hochul’s “safe subway” system.
He is in critical condition, but alive.
This insanity has to stop! https://t.co/I831QcEzV0
— Sara Rose
(@saras76) December 31, 2024
Hawkins has a history of violent behavior. In October, he was accused of harassing a woman in Brooklyn, damaging her front door, and throwing bleach at her in her building’s stairwell. Despite these serious allegations, Hawkins was released on his own recognizance due to New York’s lenient bail policies. The Brooklyn District Attorney’s office stated that the charges were not bail-eligible under current laws. Hawkins is scheduled to appear in court for these allegations later this month.
Hawkins’ criminal history also includes a 2019 arrest for assaulting an NYPD officer, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct. Critics of New York’s no-bail policies argue that such leniency emboldens repeat offenders like Hawkins, jeopardizing public safety.
One witness described Hawkins’ suspicious behavior before the attack: “I actually got a very weird vibe from him. He had a face mask on, his hood up, and made eye contact with me. I just immediately sat down on the bench.” Another commuter shared the chaotic scene after the attack: “The subway stopped abruptly, and we waited for 10 minutes, confused. Then the conductor said we had to evacuate because there was a man under the train.”
This incident highlights growing concerns about subway safety in New York City. Just days earlier, the Guardian Angels announced they would patrol subways to deter crime, following a string of violent incidents, including the tragic death of a woman set on fire by an illegal immigrant. The latest attack has reignited calls for stricter enforcement and a reevaluation of bail reform laws.
While the investigation into Hawkins’ motives continues, the shocking nature of the crime and the victim’s miraculous survival have left New Yorkers grappling with questions about safety and justice in their city. For now, Joseph Lynskey’s recovery stands as a testament to resilience in the face of unimaginable danger.
