The deadly New York City subway push story is horrendous in so many ways. As of yesterday, the suspect was still on the loose, but then overnight, police found 30-year-old Naeem Davis, a homeless man who's paid to run errands for street vendors around Times Square. He had shaved his beard and dreadlocks so he was unrecognizable from the shaky surveillance video.
Still, Davis allegedly implicated himself in the crime and showed no remorse when questioned about the murder of 58-year-old Ki Suk Han. In fact, one source said he stuck around and "heard his torso snap and he knew he was dead."
Apparently the two had words outside the turnstile during which Han accused Davis of scaring people. Now, Han is dead and a city is left in shock and terrified by the one thing most subway riders always feared in the back of their head.
Because let's face it: Standing and waiting for a subway gives a person a lot of time to think. I imagine all kinds of things on a crowded platform, and I have considered how easy it would be for someone to push me (or my children) into the path of a train.
It doesn't happen that much because only a psychotic person would do such a thing, but it does happen. This isn't the first time. It's a horrifying way to die and my heart breaks for Han's family who had to see that awful photograph of their father and husband moments before his death.
This is every New Yorker's (and every person who uses ANY city's subway) nightmare. This may change nothing, but I know I will back a little farther away from the line when trains come now. I will give them more room to breathe. I will also be careful about interactions I have on the platform.
It may seem insane to use one isolated incident to imply so much, but the reality is this could happen again and it has happened before. Just the other day I got into a very heated fight while in heavy downtown traffic. I was sure the woman was going to get out of her car and kill me.
She didn't. Obviously. But transportation rage is a real thing. We all feel it in cars, on crowded buses, and on subway platforms. This could have happened to any one of us. My heart goes out to Han's family and I really wonder what, if anything, this will change in the minds of commuters everywhere. Maybe people will try to be a little kinder to one another.
One can hope.
Do you think this will change anything?
Image via dilworthdesigns/Flickr
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Comments 12
What is upsetting as well is the fact that there were several witnesses and not one helped him. Especially sickening was the photographer who was close enough to take a photograph of this poor man's last seconds of life and then sold the pictures to a newspaper.
@threeforme - i read other articles, and the 'photographer' says he actually was taking the photos because he had hoped the flash of his camera would get the train driver's attention and cause him to stop. i can't find for certain anywhere that he sold the photos, so we shouldn't assume. besides, it was the NY Post who ran with the photo and the (i personally find) offensive "doomed" caption. that was in poor taste. but i don't fault the photographer, nor do i get the impression that he was just trying to do it for the fame or money.
this is a terrible tragedy. it sounds like the man who pushed him was mentally ill, and it's a shame that he couldn't get help he needed before it became something dangerous.
He was interviewed on the Today show this morning and Matt Lauer asked if he sold the photos and his answer was yes. Also, for just using his camera to try to flash and alert the driver he ended up with pretty centered images. He also took pictures after which I find gruesome. I am not blaming him for the man's death but I feel like it is a representation of today's society and how some people do not want to get involved and also selling your soul for the almighty dollar. How do you think Han's family feels seeing their loved ones last moments plastered across the front page.
My prayers go out to his family and also I am amazed how people always say they were mentally ill but he didn't show that by shaving his beard and cutting his hair.. The man knew what he was doing! They are just some evil people out there..
The Post and the photog should donate all proceeds to Han's family AND print an apology. Period.
I woiuldn't hold my breath for people being nicer to each other. Just look at the discourse on the net! Rude, crude, lewd and hyperbolic emotion at the drop of a hat. People are experiencing and practicing in an environment that has no consequences. It's bound to bleed out into "real" interactions.
The photographer...cold..yes...horrid..yes... however.. They think differnent...they are people that are cut from a different cloth... they go into war zones and report back to us... they take photos of bizzar things we would never see... some things we would never want to see.. somethings we need to see and wouldnt have seen.. somethings we want to see and wouldnt have been able to see had brave men and women not brought images home to us.... My grandfather was a professional photographer from 1920-1969...and those were the days before "everyone" had cameras....some of the things he captured are the only images the world has.