QUEENS, NY – A Manhattan man has been charged after allegedly slashing two commuters in an unprovoked attack inside the Union Turnpike–Kew Gardens subway station on Wednesday, prosecutors announced.
The suspect, 27-year-old Tyquan Manassa, was arraigned late Thursday night on assault and weapon possession charges.
Authorities said both victims suffered facial injuries while waiting for a train before being rushed to a local hospital for treatment.
District Attorney Melinda Katz condemned the violence, calling it “every commuter’s worst nightmare” and vowing aggressive prosecution.
Key Points
- Tyquan Manassa, 27, was charged for allegedly slashing two men on a Kew Gardens subway platform.
- Both victims sustained facial wounds requiring stitches.
- If convicted, Manassa faces up to 25 years in prison.
Prosecutors detail sequence of subway attacks
According to the criminal complaint, between 3:10 p.m. and 3:25 p.m. on November 19, Manassa approached a passenger standing on the E and F train platform and repeatedly struck him with a sharp object, leaving lacerations to his forehead and ear.
Moments later, Manassa allegedly slapped another bystander before attacking a third man, striking him in the face with a knife and causing a bleeding wound near his eyebrow. He then fled the station.
The first victim required 16 stitches, while the second stabbing victim received seven. Both were treated at a nearby hospital.
Defendant apprehended in Manhattan court
Police apprehended Manassa on Friday at Manhattan Criminal Court. He is charged with four counts of first-degree assault, four counts of second-degree assault, and one count of fourth-degree weapon possession.
Queens Criminal Court Judge Anthony Battisti ordered Manassa to return to court on November 25. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.
District Attorney Katz credited bystanders for intervening during the attack and praised police for the swift arrest, emphasizing her office’s commitment to ensuring safety in the city’s transit system.