Man Stabbed On N Train Near Atlantic Avenue
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - A man was recovering Friday evening after he was stabbed for his cellphone on the N Train in Brooklyn.
As CBS2's Christine Sloan reported, police said the victim, 33, was at the Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center station when he was robbed of his iPhone and stabbed in the abdomen at around 11:24 a.m.
The victim was rushed to New York Methodist Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, FDNY EMS officials said.
Reports of such crimes seem to be on the rise – stabbings that happen not at night, but during busy commuting hours.
Given how busy and prominent the Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center subway station is, commuters were shocked.
"This is ridiculous. Where is the safety down here? Where's the security?" said Delilah Santos. "It's crazy. This is Barclays Center!"
The Stillwell Avenue-Coney Island-bound train was pulling into the station at the time of the attack, police said. The suspect, who was in his 20s, took off on foot.
Detectives were still looking for the suspect late Friday afternoon, and commuters said they were being extra cautious.
"Look around, look behind you, look around everywhere -- especially who you're sitting next to," said Stephanie Luna.
"Situational awareness -- just pay attention to the people around you, where you are, and what's going on around you," said Jeff Binney of North Carolina. "It helps."
Just recently, another victim was slashed on the No. 6 Train platform while defending his wife. Police said while stabbings are up across the city by 20 percent, knife attacks on trains are down since last year.
"You just got to be alert," said Sarah Vaughan of Brooklyn. "I keep my headphones in, but I don't really, never listen to music actually."
When asked if the randomness concerned her, Vaughn added: "I take the train every day. I mean, you're going to run into those things happening."
Service was disrupted for about 20 minutes at the time of the incident, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said.
Police have checked video from several surveillance cameras, including an animal hospital and one right in front of the train station.
