Machete-wielding ‘Lucifer’ fatally shot after slashing three

A 44-year-old man identifying himself as “Lucifer” was fatally shot by police at New York City’s Grand Central Station on Saturday morning after he carried out a random machete attack on three elderly commuters.

A chaotic scene unfolded at Grand Central-42nd Street Station on Saturday morning, April 11, 2026, when a man armed with a large machete randomly attacked three elderly commuters before being fatally shot by the NYPD. The suspect, identified as 44-year-old Anthony Griffin, began his rampage around 9:30 a.m. on the 7 train platform, where he slashed an 84-year-old man on the head. Griffin then moved to another platform, where he inflicted severe facial lacerations and an open skull fracture on a 65-year-old man and slashed a 70-year-old woman on the shoulder. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch reported that Griffin was behaving erratically and repeatedly identified himself as “Lucifer” during the violent episode, which prompted immediate train diversions and a heavy security response.

Responding officers cornered the assailant, who was still wielding the machete and acting aggressively. According to Commissioner Tisch, the officers showed restraint by issuing at least 20 verbal orders for Griffin to drop his weapon before he advanced toward them with the blade extended. “The individual was armed with a large knife, described as a machete, and was behaving erratically, repeatedly stating that he was Lucifer,” Tisch said during a press conference. She noted that an officer fired two shots to stop the threat, and Griffin was later pronounced dead at Bellevue Hospital. While the suspect had three prior arrests, Tisch clarified that he had no recorded history of being an “Emotionally Disturbed Person” (EDP) with the department.

New York leaders quickly addressed the violence, praising the quick intervention of the transit officers. Governor Kathy Hochul condemned the assault, stating, “Innocent people were attacked in a senseless act of violence,” and expressed gratitude for the officers who prevented further casualties. Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who was briefed on the incident, confirmed via social media that an internal investigation is underway and that body-camera footage will be released in accordance with standard procedure. “I’m grateful to the NYPD for their quick response and for preventing additional violence,” Mamdani said, adding that all three victims are currently in stable condition as they recover from their injuries at local medical facilities.

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