An undocumented immigrant, accused of pushing an Air Force veteran onto subway tracks in New York City, had previously been deported four times before this near-tragic incident. The suspect, Bairon Hernandez, was taken into custody on Tuesday following allegations that he pushed both Richard Williams, 83, and John Rodriguez onto the tracks in Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
Williams was rescued from the tracks but remains unresponsive, with little hope of recovery, as confirmed by his distraught daughter, Debbie Williams, in an interview with the New York Post.
According to reports from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) obtained by the Daily Mail, Hernandez, a native of Honduras, first entered the United States in 2008. Despite being deported multiple times, he repeatedly returned to the country. His most recent deportation occurred in 2020, although the exact date of his latest re-entry remains unclear.
In light of Hernandez’s complex immigration history, the DHS has urged New York authorities to keep him in custody, highlighting concerns about his immigration status and the potential risk of release.
His most recent deportation was reportedly in 2020, though officials have not pinpointed when he returned to the country.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has implored New York authorities not to release Hernandez from their custody amid his questionable immigration status.
‘Bairon Posada-Hernandez is a serial criminal, and four-time deported illegal alien from Honduras who should never have been able to walk our streets and harm innocent Americans,’ DHS Deputy Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement issued Thursday.
Williams’ daughter told the Post that she was ‘pissed’ after finding out about the perpetrator’s immigration status.
Suspected attacker Bairon Hernandez was arrested Tuesday after he fled the scene on Sunday
Victim and veteran Richard Williams is reportedly unresponsive and is not expected to wake up
‘How the f*** did he get back here?’ Debbie Williams said. ‘I want him to go to the Venezuela prison, the worst place he could go to.’
‘I want him to suffer for the rest of his life. Prison justice would be appropriate.’
In his time in and out of the country, Hernandez has racked up at least 15 criminal charges.
His alleged offenses included aggravated assault, drug possession, domestic violence and possession of a weapon.
Hernandez has also been accused of assault and obstruction of police.
This time around, he was charged with attempted murder, attempted assault, assault and reckless endangerment, police said.
The scene unfolded on Sunday around 11.30am when Hernandez allegedly sent Rodriguez flying onto the tracks, per the New York Police Department (NYPD).
Rodriguez (pictured), 30, was pushed onto the tracks just before Williams
Williams (left) is seen on the train platform just moments before the alleged assailant, Hernandez (right), pushed him onto the train tracks and fled the scene
Williams was also toppled onto the tracks and had to be helped off by Rodriguez.
Bystanders guided them back onto the platform just before a train came speeding into the station.
Hernandez fled the scene but was arrested early Tuesday morning at a shelter in Brooklyn after police received a tip, authorities said.
Rodriguez suffered minor injuries as a result of the vicious and random attack.
But Williams’ family said he might not make it.
‘We’re wishing for a miracle right now,’ Debbie told the Daily Mail on Wednesday as her father remains on life support at New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell.
Williams was shoved onto a subway track in New York City on Sunday morning at the Lexington Avenue-63rd St. station
Hernandez was arrested on Tuesday morning, several days after the alleged attack
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has been criticized for maintaining the city’s status as a ‘sanctuary city.’
The jurisdiction limits local authorities’ cooperation with immigration agents and protects undocumented immigrants from deportation.
‘We are praying for the victims and their families,’ said DHS Deputy Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis.
‘DHS is calling upon New York sanctuary politicians to commit to this ICE detainer and not release this heinous criminal back into New York communities.’
Hernandez was arraigned on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty, reported PIX11. He is being held on a bail of $100,000 cash or $300,000 bond.
The Daily Mail contacted the NYPD for more information.
