Transit stabbing suspect shot by officers after knife attack

What's happened

Video shows two NYPD detectives ordering Anthony Griffin to drop a machete after he injures three people at the 42nd Street-Grand Central hub. Griffin advances with the weapon; detectives fire twice, Griffin dies at hospital. Police say commands were issued repeatedly and de‑escalation attempts were made.

What's behind the headline?

Immediate sequence

Officers are confronting an armed suspect on a busy subway platform.
Commands to drop the weapon are repeated; one officer draws his gun as the suspect continues toward them.
The suspect is heard shouting phrases like “I am Lucifer” and “shoot me.”

What this means for safety and policy

This case underscores the ongoing tension between de‑escalation and decisive armed response in urban transit environments.
The incident will likely fuel debates about officer training, use‑of‑force protocols, and the thresholds for disengagement versus intervention.

Reader takeaway

Passages show the real‑time decision‑making pressures officers face when an armed individual is approaching a crowd.
The officers offered clear commands and attempted to de‑escalate before taking action.

How we got here

The incident occurred at the 42nd Street-Grand Central station on April 11 as Anthony Griffin, 44, randomly slashed three people. The police bodycam shows officers ordering Griffin to drop the weapon multiple times; when he advanced with the knife, Detective Giuffre fired two shots. Victims include an 84-year-old man, a 65-year-old man, and a 70-year-old woman with non-life-threatening injuries. Officials say the officers have been cooperating with the investigation and were responding to an armed threat on a busy transit platform.

Our analysis

The Associated Press reports that detectives Ryan Giuffre and Anthony Manetta confronted Anthony Griffin at approximately 9:40 a.m. on April 11 after he began a rampage with a knife, with Griffin then advancing toward officers as they shouted for him to drop the weapon. The Independent mirrors the AP account, noting that Griffin was shot after ignoring multiple commands. The New York Post provides additional video details of the exchange, including the repeated commands and the suspect’s claims. All outlets confirm three victims were injured prior to the shooting and that Griffin died at Bellevue Hospital after being transported there.

Go deeper

What charges or disciplinary actions have been announced for the officers, if any, as the investigation proceeds?
Have other transit authorities updated their training or protocols in response to incidents like this?
What protections or resources are available for the victims and families affected by the attack?