According to the police, a man from Queens has been charged with the fatal stabbing of another man during a dispute on a subway train in Brooklyn, New York City, on Tuesday night.
The suspect, identified as Jordan Williams, 20 years old, allegedly stabbed Devictor Ouedraogo, 36, on a northbound J train. Police officers discovered Mr. Ouedraogo, a resident of Brooklyn, at around 8 p.m. on the platform of the Marcy Avenue station in Williamsburg, suffering from a stab wound to his chest. Despite being rushed to NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, he succumbed to his injuries.
Jordan Williams was arrested and formally charged on Wednesday with manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon. However, a woman who was apprehended with Mr. Williams has since been released, her identity remaining undisclosed.
Law enforcement sources stated that prior to the fatal encounter, Mr. Ouedraogo had engaged in a dispute with passengers on the train, including Jordan Williams’ girlfriend.
Jason Goldman, who claims to be representing Mr. Williams, expressed concern over the charges, stating that a thorough investigation should have been conducted before his client’s arrest. Mr. Goldman argued that Mr. Williams’ actions were in self-defense, citing the victim’s alleged assault on his girlfriend and threatening behavior towards other passengers.
This incident marks at least the fifth killing within the New York City subway system this year. It follows the choking death of Jordan Neely, a former street performer who was homeless, on an F train approximately six weeks ago. The recurrence of such incidents highlights the persistent safety challenges faced underground.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office charged Daniel Penny with second-degree manslaughter a week after the killing of Jordan Neely. Prosecutors claimed that Mr. Penny had restrained Neely, who was allegedly making threats and intimidating passengers on the train.
Mr. Goldman raised questions about potential disparities in the treatment of Mr. Williams compared to Mr. Penny, citing differences in their skin color and neighborhood backgrounds. He pointed out the similarities between their claims of self-defense.
In a phone interview, Mr. Williams’s grandmother, Nettie Willis, expressed her belief that her grandson acted in self-defense. She described him as a peaceful individual who only reacts when provoked and helps support his mother financially.
Efforts to reach Mr. Ouedraogo’s relatives for comment were unsuccessful.
While the chances of experiencing crime in the subway are statistically low, New Yorkers have been alarmed by recent incidents of violence, especially as the transit system strives to recover its pre-pandemic ridership levels.
Police data reveals a significant increase in arrests for subway-related offenses in recent months. From January through April of this year, approximately 4,000 arrests were made in the transit system, compared to nearly 3,000 arrests during the same period in 2022.
