In a chilling turn of events, an elderly veteran has succumbed to his injuries after a tragic incident in New York City’s subway system. Richard Williams, an 83-year-old retired Air Force pilot, passed away on March 17, according to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security. His death follows a grievous attack where he was allegedly pushed onto the subway tracks by an individual with a troubling criminal past.
The incident unfolded at the Lexington Avenue-63rd Street Station. Williams and another man were reportedly shoved onto the tracks by 34-year-old Bairon Posada-Hernandez, a Honduran national with a history of criminal activity and illegal immigrant status in the United States. Posada-Hernandez was apprehended on March 10 and now faces a murder charge.
Amid the chaos, 30-year-old John Pena, who was also allegedly pushed onto the tracks, displayed remarkable bravery. He managed to pull Williams to safety just moments before a train barreled into the station, as reported by the New York Post.
Despite the heroic rescue, Williams sustained severe injuries. He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors identified a brain bleed. Following an urgent surgical procedure, medical professionals determined that Williams had no brain activity, marking the beginning of a devastating end for the decorated veteran.
John Pena, 30, the other man allegedly pushed onto the tracks, helped pull Williams back onto the platform moments before a train rolled into the station, the New York Post reported.
After the attack, Williams was taken to a hospital, where doctors said he suffered a brain bleed and underwent surgery. He had no brain activity after the procedure, doctors said.
Williams’ death has been ruled a homicide.
“I want him to go to the Venezuela prison, the worst place he could go to,” his daughter, Debbie Williams, previously told the newspaper. “I want him to suffer for the rest of his life. Prison justice would be appropriate.”
She said her father had recently won a five-year battle with prostate cancer six months ago.
Hernandez’s public defender, Mitchell Schuman, declined ot comment on the charges against his client.
“We have yet to see the indictment, concluded our investigation or reviewed the expected voluminous discovery materials,” he said.
Bairon Posada-Hernandez, 34, was arrested March 10 and faces a murder charge. (NYPD)
Posada-Hernandez, whom the Department of Homeland Security called a “serial criminal,” has been deported from the United States four times, the agency said.
“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,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis.
Federal authorities are asking New York not to release Posada-Hernandez back onto the streets. New York has adopted sanctuary policies limiting cooperation between local and federal authorities.
U.S. Immigration and Custioms Enforcement has lodged a detainer for Posada-Hernandez. Fox News Digital has reached out to Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s office and the New York Public Defenders office.
Bairon Posada-Hernandez, 34, was arrested March 10 and faces a murder charge. (WNYW)
Posada-Hernandez’s criminal history includes 15 prior charges, including simple assault, domestic violence, obstruction of police, possession of a weapon, drug possession and aggravated assault.
He first entered the country Jan. 2, 2008, and has been deported four different times, most recently in 2020. It was unclear when he reentered the U.S. for a fifth time, DHS said.
–>
