A homeless man has been apprehended by police following accusations of stabbing a subway passenger in Queens. The incident unfolded after the victim reportedly asked the suspect to lower his cell phone volume, authorities shared on Wednesday.
The suspect, identified as Johnny Wood, was taken into custody on Monday. The arrest follows an altercation that occurred on an E train as it neared its final destination at the Jamaica Center-Parsons Archer subway station.
According to police reports, the confrontation occurred around 11 a.m. on Saturday. Wood, aged 50, was engaged in a phone conversation when a 54-year-old fellow passenger requested that he speak more quietly. This request led to a heated exchange.
During the argument, Wood allegedly assaulted the victim by repeatedly striking him in the face before stabbing him in the abdomen. The attack ceased as the train arrived at the station, at which point Wood fled the scene.
Emergency responders quickly transported the injured man to Jamaica Hospital, where doctors anticipate a full recovery.
Authorities tracked down Wood in Fresh Meadows, arresting him three days post-incident. The case highlights ongoing concerns about safety in public transit spaces.
Wood lives in a men’s shelter in Downtown Brooklyn, according to cops. He’s been charged with attempted murder, assault and weapon possession.
A Queens Criminal Court judge ordered Wood held without bail when he was arraigned Tuesday.
The arrest comes as the city has seen a slight decrease in assaults in the city’s subway system this year. As of Sunday, there have been 513 assaults reported on the rails this year, four fewer than by this time last year.
