Subway Rider Stabbed To Death While Sleeping On Train Near Penn Station, Sources Say
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police are searching for a suspect after a man was stabbed and killed Sunday morning while on a train in a random attack near Penn Station.
Sources told CBS2's Kiran Dhillon the victim was sleeping on a train when another man came up to him and stabbed in him the neck.
Police are now asking for help in finding the suspect in this case.
Police have released surveillance images of a man wanted in connection to the crime. He is described as around 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, with a medium build.
"It's just scary, isn't it? It's a frightening thing to think you take the train every day and think that it would be unsafe," one person said.
"That's super sad. That's a terrible thing to happen," another said.
Police said the stabbing happened at around 12:30 a.m. Sources said the 32-year-old victim, identified as Akeem Loney, was on a northbound 2 train when another man approached him as the train neared Penn Station.
The victim was then stabbed in the neck.
Loney was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The incident has left subway riders horrified.
"I don't feel safe. I don't feel safe at all on the train. I'm afraid to get on the train. I took a chance today after hearing what happened," one person said.
Sources said the victim, who was from the Bronx, was homeless, but was previously a patient at Kings County Hospital's psychiatric center.
Investigators said the attack appears to have been unprovoked. They do not believe the two men knew each other.
Subway riders said they will be more aware of their surroundings as a result of the violence.
"Being alert is important. Sleeping, listening to music, things like that. I think people need to realize subways are so dangerous," a rider said.
"I try not to sleep on the train and really keep to myself," another said.
Statement attrib MTA Spokesperson Aaron Donovan:
"This is an absolutely horrible crime. We are working with the NYPD and will do everything possible to cooperate with their search for this perpetrator, and help make sure our subways are safe," Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokesman Aaron Donovan said.
The MTA said a surge in NYPD officers, along with security cameras, in all 472 subway stations have helped make the system safer.
Even so, riders said they want more officers in train cars.
"There's no policeman. They said they would have them at stations, and I haven't seen them," one person said.
"More police down there would be the most important thing, just to keep an eye on things. Things happen where there's no watchful eye," another said.
As for Sunday's stabbing, sources said a weapon had yet to be recovered.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-8477 or for Spanish, 1-888-577-4782. Tips can also be sent to the NYPDTips Twitter account or submitted online at NYPDCrimeStoppers.com.
CBS2's Kiran Dhillon contributed to this report.
