A random subway shove has turned into a homicide case—and a family’s worst nightmare.
An 83-year-old Air Force veteran, Richard Williams, has died after being pushed onto subway tracks in Manhattan, prompting prosecutors to upgrade charges against the accused attacker to murder.
Williams died March 17, days after the March 8 attack at the Lexington Avenue–63rd Street station, where police say he was shoved from behind in what authorities describe as an unprovoked assault.
The suspect, Bairon Hernandez, 34, was initially charged with attempted murder and assault but now faces second-degree murder following Williams’ death, according to the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.
Authorities say Hernandez also pushed a second man onto the tracks during the same incident before fleeing. Both victims were hospitalized, though the second man survived.
The attack was captured on video and described by police as random, intensifying concerns about subway safety across New York City.
Federal officials say Hernandez is a Honduran national who had previously been deported multiple times and had a lengthy criminal record, including at least 15 prior charges ranging from assault to weapons possession.
Williams’ death has now been ruled a homicide by the medical examiner.
The case is moving quickly.
Hernandez is expected to be arraigned on the upgraded murder charge in Manhattan court, where prosecutors will lay out their case in full.
Williams “loved the streets of New York” and traveling in the transit system. He’d been happily married for 55 years and had just won a five-year battle with prostate cancer six months ago, giving him a new lease on life, his family has said.
“He overcame everything,” another daughter, Diane Williams, 58, previously said. “He got re-birthed. He felt optimistic about him and his wife, who he adores tremendously.”
“My father is a phenomenal human being and nobody deserves being pushed like that,” Debbie Williams had said — along with some choice words for his accused killer.
“I want him to go to the Venezuela prison, the worst place he could go to,” she said. “I want him to suffer for the rest of his life. Prison justice would be appropriate.”
The US Department of Homeland Security said Hernandez had past arrests for aggravated assault, possession of a weapon and domestic violence.
Watch the clip below:
🚨 BREAKING: An 83-year-old veteran and cancer survivor is dead after being shoved onto NYC subway tracks by an illegal alien. The suspect, a Honduran national deported four times with 15 prior charges, was still roaming U.S. streets.
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) March 27, 2026
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman commented on the story, asking, “Why is it controversial for Democrats [to] support deporting criminal migrants?”
An alleged repeat criminal offender was allowed back on our streets and killed an Air Force veteran.
This is precisely why I was the Democratic lead on the Laken Riley law.
Why is it controversial for Democrats support deporting criminal migrants? https://t.co/rwb2MI8FJv
— U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) March 26, 2026
More over at The New York Post:
83-year-old veteran randomly shoved onto NYC subway tracks dies from injuries, illegal migrant charged with murder https://t.co/NrNzQsEgBK pic.twitter.com/pW9rEjZSot
— New York Post (@nypost) March 26, 2026
Thank you for visiting