Three people were injured Saturday morning after a machete-wielding man carried out a random attack inside New York City’s Grand Central Terminal before being fatally shot by police, authorities said.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the suspect slashed three victims — a 65-year-old man, a 70-year-old woman and an 84-year-old man — during the incident at one of the city’s busiest transit hubs.
Police officers confronted the suspect and shot him after he refused repeated orders to drop the weapon and continued to pose a threat.
“Our officers were confronted with an armed individual who had already injured multiple people and was continuing to pose a threat,” Tisch said at a news conference. “They gave clear commands. They attempted to de-escalate, and when that threat did not stop, they took decisive action to stop it and to protect New Yorkers.”
According to investigators, the sequence of events began around 9:30 a.m. when the suspect entered the subway system at the Vernon Boulevard station in Queens and boarded a No. 7 train heading to Grand Central.
After arriving at the station, the attacker slashed an 84-year-old man on the No. 7 platform, causing serious injuries to the victim’s head and face.
The suspect then moved to the 4/5/6 train platform where he attacked two additional victims.
Police said the 65-year-old man suffered severe injuries including an open skull fracture, while the 70-year-old woman sustained a laceration to her shoulder.
Around 9:40 a.m., two transit officers were alerted by a civilian about the stabbings and moved toward the platforms.
When officers encountered the suspect, they repeatedly ordered him to drop the machete. Authorities said the man ignored at least 20 commands and continued advancing toward officers with the weapon.
Officers also attempted to calm the situation, telling the suspect they would get him help, police said.
When the suspect continued approaching with the machete extended, an officer fired his weapon, striking the attacker twice. Law enforcement sources said the confrontation lasted roughly 10 minutes before the suspect was shot.
All three victims were transported to a hospital and are expected to survive. Two police officers were also taken to a hospital and were reported to be in stable condition.
Authorities said the victims did not know the suspect and the attack appears to have been random.
Police sealed off parts of the station with yellow tape while investigators examined the scene. Subway service on the 4, 5 and 6 lines was temporarily diverted as the investigation continued.
Grand Central Terminal is one of the busiest transportation hubs in New York City, serving thousands of commuters and tourists each day.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she had been briefed on the incident and praised the officers who responded.
“I’m grateful to our brave officers who acted quickly to stop the suspect,” Hochul wrote in a statement.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also commended police for their rapid response and said the department will conduct an internal review. Body-camera footage from the officers involved will be released as part of the investigation.
Officials noted that although the attack has raised concerns, overall violent crime in New York City has been declining in recent years. The city’s murder rate dropped more than 20 percent last year, from 382 in 2024 to 305 in 2025.
Still, Commissioner Tisch said incidents like this highlight the fear caused by unpredictable violence.
“Random acts of violence scare everyone,” she said. “Anyone can be a victim of a random act of violence.”
