A New York man slugged by an irate straphanger on his morning commute says he’s afraid of working into his attacker once more on his day by day route — however that after years on the system he’s not stunned violence lastly discovered him.
“After an incident, you don’t actually get away from that incident,” mentioned Alexander Rakitin, 42, who was smacked within the face Monday morning after by chance nudging the knee of his seatmate, 34-year-old Timothy Barbee.
“All people takes the identical prepare route, on the similar time. So as we speak, at 8:30, I’m getting on the N prepare on the similar cease, similar station, enter the identical automobile and the identical door. So this incident goes to stick with me for a very long time,” he instructed The Submit.
Rakitin — a father working in finance — has been taking the prepare from Brooklyn to Manhattan since 1995, and mentioned whereas the subway’s all the time been harmful, the previous few years have introduced a brand new diploma of hazard.
“I believe everybody who takes the subway feels scared and nervous,” he mentioned. “There’s a level of nervousness on a regular basis. Scanning my environment, seeing irate, offended folks. Individuals simply not following the foundations, delinquent habits, legal habits, and aggression.”
Violence on the NYC subway has climbed for the reason that pandemic, with murders surging by 60% from the yr prior earlier in 2024.
Crimes like theft, and felony assault have dropped since 2023, in response to NYPD stats, however nonetheless stay elevated above pre-pandemic ranges.
And New Yorkers are feeling the worry. As of spring 2024, simply 45% of straphangers mentioned they felt secure on the subway — down from 54% in fall 2023.
Rakitin mentioned the Monday incident “confirms” these fears and anxieties many New Yorkers’ really feel on the subway — anxieties which left him feeling like he was “combating for his life” as he grappled with Barbee.
The 2 fell from their seats to the subway ground after Barbee swatted at him, in response to Rakitin, earlier than he was in a position to get the benefit and pin Barbee to the bottom.
As Rakitin held Barbee down, he mentioned different straphangers began telling him to let him go — which he mentioned left him baffled.
“The one method I can clarify it to myself is that the folks that noticed it begin, the way it began, they only ran away. Most individuals simply ran away into a special prepare automobile. After which the folks that didn’t see it begin solely paid consideration once I wrestled him to the bottom.”
Footage from the incident captured the 2 staring one another down, earlier than Barbee mentioned “It’s f–king completed, cease watching me.”
Rakitin then instructed Barbee to “chill” and stored staring, earlier than Barbee mentioned “I ain’t obtained time to go to jail as we speak” and threw a punch.
Barbee was arrested as soon as the prepare pulled into the subsequent cease, and charged with third-degree assault.
After his arraignment Tuesday, Barbee declined to touch upon the incident.
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