Crime is down but some violence is up in the Big Apple\u2019s transit system, according to NYPD data.<\/p>\n
A maniac repeat-offender pushed an elderly man to his death<\/a> on Manhattan subway stairs Thursday, cops said \u2014 the fourth homicide in or around the subway this year, up from just one a year ago at this time.<\/p>\n Cops brought Rhamell Burke, described as an \u201cemotionally disturbed person,\u201d to Bellevue Hospital\u2019s psych ward at 3:30 p.m. Thursday. He was released an hour later and at 9:30 p.m. allegedly shoved Ross Falzone, a 76-year-old retired teacher, down the stairs of a Chelsea subway station.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Rhamell Burke allegedly pushed a man to his death in the subway. Robert Mecea for New York Post<\/p>\n Because the attack began above ground, the NYPD will not include the homicide in its transit-crime stats.<\/p>\n Robbery in the transit system has also shot up by 18% so far in 2026 over the same span last year, to 156 from 132, according to NYPD data.\u00a0<\/p>\n Felony assault is down 6% so far this year, to 209 from 221, but has increased 16% over the same period in 2024 and 60% from seven years ago.<\/p>\n Misdemeanor assault \u2014 typically the charge for a punch \u2014 is up 15% so far this year from 500 to 573, and 68% from seven years ago.<\/p>\n Major crimes in transit overall, which include murder, rape, robbery, felony assault and grand larceny, are down less than a percentage point from 733 to 732, according to NYPD data.<\/p>\n Tickets for fare beating have dropped 8% so far this year, from 40,036 to 36,659, and 14% over the same span two years ago, according to the data.\u00a0<\/p>\n Three elderly people were slashed on April 11 by a man with a machete at Grand Central Station. Luiz C. Ribeiro for NY Post<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s not surprising is that there seems to be a significant increase in certain offenses that is coupled with a decrease in enforcement,\u201d said Rafael Mangual of the Manhattan Institute. <\/p>\n The NYPD insists that there has been no decline in subway patrols.<\/p>\n Outside of transit the Big Apple has been seeing historic lows in crime<\/a>, including the lowest monthly murder count in recorded history with 19 in April 2026, following the safest first quarter for shootings and murders, which was driven by precision policing and increased officer hiring, according to officials.<\/p>\n \u201cLast year was the safest year on New York City\u2019s subway since 2009, excluding the pandemic years,\u201d an NYPD spokesperson said.<\/p>\n So far this year, grand larcenies in transit have dropped 2.7% from 368 to 358.<\/p>\n Major crimes in transit overall, which include murder, rape, robbery, felony assault and grand larceny, are down less than a percentage point from 733 to 732.<\/p>\n The felony assaults include a large number of assaults against police officers in transit \u2014 28% or 58 so far this year, compared to 29% or 64 in the same period last year, the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n Out of the 157 robbery reports this year, 103 have resulted in an arrest, the spokesperson said, adding that some of the robberies happened after people fell asleep on the train.<\/p>\n \u201cBut there is always more we can do to ensure people feel safe, and that is why we\u2019ve recently added more than 175 officers to the subway every day, in addition to the normal cops who are always within the transit system,\u201d the spokesperson said. <\/p>\n Out of the 157 robbery reports this year, 103 have resulted in an arrest. Luiz C. Ribeiro for NY Post<\/p>\n \u201cTheir focus is on preventing violence and responding immediately when something happens. They work to ensure that the millions of people who ride our subways each day can do so safely.\u201d<\/p>\n The subway murders included a beloved 83-year-old veteran who was randomly pushed<\/a> onto the tracks by a stranger on March 8 and a 41-year-old man was shot dead<\/a> on a Bronx subway platform when an argument between the victim and the gunman turned deadly.<\/p>\n A 55-year-old man died after he was punched on the northbound C\/E platform at Penn Station around 7 p.m. March 14. Nassadir Tate, 21, was arrested and charged with assault but was later released pending an autopsy report. <\/p>\n Shooting incidents are up so far this year \u2014 2 to 3 \u2014 over the same period last year. AP<\/p>\n