NEW YORK — The NYPD needs the general public’s assist discovering a person it says fired pictures at one other man whereas interrupting an tried theft on a subway platform Tuesday evening.
Police stated it occurred at 9:13 p.m. on the forty ninth Avenue N, R, W subway station in Manhattan, close to Instances Sq..
Nobody was injured.
Matthew Roesch, 49, allegedly tried to rob a 40-year-old lady, demanding her bag, based on police.
That is when one other man noticed the altercation and pulled out a gun and fired two pictures.
Roesch was allegedly a ”swiper,” that means an individual who swipes folks by means of MetroCard turnstiles for ideas, New York Metropolis Transit President Richard Davey stated.
He was taken into custody by responding officers and charged with tried theft.
”There was an interplay, an argument, with a buyer. Appears like he tried to steal her purse. We had one other buyer determine to drag out a gun and attempt to intervene,” Davey stated. ”Let’s unpack what’s improper with all of this.”
Davey talked about fare evasion, and stated that the ”swiper” was recognized to police.
”Lastly, you realize, this particular person, fairly than pulling out a cellphone and calling the police — by the way in which, the police, after they have been alerted, have been right here inside minutes,” Davey stated. ”We do not tolerate this in New York Metropolis Transit, interval. Now we have the purse snatcher -slash-swiper in custody. We’ll get this man in custody as effectively. Thank goodness no person was damage on this occasion. I’m simply right here to inform New Yorkers, our prospects, that the sort of conduct — misbehavior — won’t be tolerated. We are going to proceed to work carefully with the Transit Police and produce, on this occasion, these now two perpetrators to justice.”
Davey known as it ”completely past the pale.”
Davey stated he has seen video of the incident.
”It is, I might say, uncommon. He type of appears very calm, pulls out a gun, fires two pictures, calmly places the gun again in a bag, and walks away,” Davey stated. ”I imply it’s bizarre. However the level is that is not what we’d like from anybody within the system.”
The one that fired the pictures took off. Police are trying to find him.
NYPD
Mayor Eric Adams signed a regulation final yr declaring Instances Sq. a gun-free zone, making it unlawful to hold hid weapons within the space.
Police describe the person who fired the gun as 35-45 years outdated, 5-foot-9, and about 230 kilos. He was final seen sporting a lightweight inexperienced t-shirt, black shorts, white socks, black sneakers, a inexperienced e-book bag, and a inexperienced B&H bag.
Anybody with any info is requested to name the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). It’s also possible to submit a tip through their web site or through DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are saved confidential.