A 34-year-old man was arraigned in Manhattan court on Monday on charges related to a shooting aboard a train at an Upper East Side subway station earlier this month, District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office said.
Steven Sylvester was charged with attempted murder, assault and attempted assault in a five-count indictment in New York State Supreme Court, according to the DA’s office. Prosecutors said he is accused of trying to shoot a 35-year-old “Good Samaritan” who intervened in a physical fight between him and his girlfriend on a northbound 4 train at 2:30 a.m. on June 2.
During the incident, the 35-year-old grabbed Sylverster from behind and a struggle between the two of them ensued, according to court documents. As the train entered the 86th Street station and the doors opened, Sylvester allegedly pulled out a gun and shot at the rider but missed, officials said.
Bragg’s office said the bullet hit a train door, ricocheted off a window and injured an innocent bystander, a 32-year-old man who was entering the train car. The bullet wounded his left hand and grazed his torso, according to the indictment.
“As alleged, Steven Sylvester carried a loaded firearm onto a public, crowded train and intended to use it against a Good Samaritan, shooting an innocent bystander in the process,” Bragg said in a statement. “This alleged conduct is very serious and put fellow subway riders at risk of being injured. We will continue holding people accountable who misuse our transit system as a hub for dangerous weapons and violence and I wish the victim a speedy recovery.”
Court records show Sylvester pleaded not guilty in court to all the charges. His attorney was not immediately available for comment.
Prosecutors said Sylvester fled the station and was eventually arrested on June 6. Officers carrying out a search warrant at his apartment the following day found clothes and accessories he was seen wearing at the time of the incident, along with bullets and a firearm magazine.
