Machete-Wielding Maniac Calling Himself ‘Lucifer’ Stabs Three At NYC’s Grand Central Station

Three elderly subway riders were stabbed by a machete-wielding maniac calling himself “Lucifer” at New York City’s Grand Central Station on Saturday morning.

The suspect, identified by the New York Police Department as 44-year-old Anthony Griffin, was fatally shot by officers during the encounter.

The three victims — an 84-year-old man, a 65-year-old man, and a 70-year-old woman — sustained injuries that were described as serious but not life-threatening. All were transported to hospitals and remain in stable condition, according to a report from the New York Post.

Griffin had boarded a Manhattan-bound 7 train at the Vernon Boulevard station in Queens around 9:30 a.m. and arrived at Grand Central about 10 minutes later. Upon exiting, he slashed an 84-year-old man on the 7 train platform, inflicting significant lacerations to the victim’s head and face.

Griffin then proceeded upstairs to the northbound 4, 5, and 6 platform, where he slashed a 65-year-old man, who suffered similar lacerations along with an open skull fracture, and a 70-year-old woman, who was slashed on her shoulder.

Two NYPD detectives assigned to an overtime transit detail responded after a civilian alerted them and they located one of the victims. They then encountered Griffin on the 4, 5, 6 platform.

According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Griffin was “behaving erratically, repeatedly stating that he was ‘Lucifer.’” He was armed with a large knife described as a machete.

Tisch stated that the officers “gave clear demands” and “attempted to de-escalate,” including offering assistance with the words, “We are going to get you help.” Griffin refused to comply with at least 20 orders to drop the knife before advancing at officers with the weapon pointed outwards.

One officer discharged his service weapon, striking Griffin twice. The attacker was then transported to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Anthony Griffin, the “maniac” (as described by the @nypost) who slashed three elderly people with a machete — while calling himself “Lucifer” — in an unprovoked attack at Grand Central Terminal this morning, and was shot dead by the police. Griffin had 13 prior arrests, including… pic.twitter.com/fntGFdwRsL

— Crime In NYC (@Crime_In_NYC) April 11, 2026

The attacks were described by investigators as random and not linked to terrorism. Tisch noted that Griffin had three prior unsealed arrests in New York City but no documented history of mental illness with the police department.

The entire incident was captured on body-worn camera footage, which the NYPD plans to release following its internal investigation, consistent with department policy for officer-involved shootings.

In response to the event, subway service on the 4, 5, 6, and 7 lines bypassed Grand Central temporarily during the active investigation before resuming. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani issued a statement thanking the NYPD for its quick response and confirmed that the victims were in stable condition.

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