A man from Bronx, identified as Randol Contreras, aged 24, has been implicated by a Queens grand jury for allegedly engaging in a violent assault, attempting to murder a 23-year-old young woman. The alleged crime occurred as the woman was departing from the Jamaican-Van Wyck subway station located in Richmond Hill the previous month. In a noteworthy act of heroism, two Venezuelans, who were residents of a nearby shelter for migrants, promptly intervened in the situation. They courageously confronted the attacker and managed to hold him until the police authorities could take over.
The serious charges against Contreras, as per the indictment includes attempted murder and multiple counts of assault. Additionally, Contreras is also charged with the criminal possession of a weapon. A day prior to this, the NYPD took the opportunity to acknowledge the commendable actions of the brave migrants who intervened in the assault. The indictment details that around 8:23 p.m., on July 28, the victim was walking towards the exit of the subway station having just left the escalator.
Details from the indictment note that Contreras approached the unsuspecting victim, brandishing a knife. He then proceeded to demand money from her, cornering her next to the subway’s escalator. The frightened young woman informed him she did not have any money and attempted to offer him her purse. Instead of being pacified, Contreras escalated his threat and brutally stabbed the woman thrice on the right side of her torso and also in the abdomen. He took it further by slashing her face.
The intervention occurred when one of the migrants was using the escalator and witnessed the horrific ordeal. He hurriedly instructed his son to evacuate the premise before yelling at Contreras to cease his action. Distracted, Contreras turned his attention on the witness, however he quickly decided to flee to the turnstile. The courageous migrant, along with another, pursued him.
Contreras’ attempt to escape was halted by the quick-thinking migrants. They detained him outside the subway station, ordering him to prevent any further movements. It was then that the officers of the 102nd Precinct located in Richmond Hill arrived at the scene and formally arrested Contreras. Meanwhile, in the interior of the station, another observer saw the grievously wounded victim and placed an emergency call.
The passenger who sought emergency service did not stop at that, but assisted in navigating the wounded victim out of the subway station. He escorted her to the nearby Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s emergency room, ensuring she received immediate medical attention. A subsequent search conducted by the authorities found the knife used in the attack and the vest worn by Contreras discarded in a garbage bin.
Confirming the severity of the charges against Contreras, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said, ‘We have managed to secure a grand jury indictment for attempted murder against Randol Contreras.’ The young woman sustained serious injuries in this unexpected attack that reportedly took place as she made her way out of the subway station.
Moreover, Katz detailed the harrowing events, stating, ‘This defendant seemingly demanded money from the victim before mercilessly stabbing her multiple times in her torso, which resulted in serious harm such her liver being punctured. The assault further included a slash wound on her face.’ The ruling was handed out by Queens Supreme Court Justice Toni Cimino who ordered Contreras to be held in custody with no provision for bail.
Contreras is now slated to appear in court again on September 30. Should the grand jury find him guilty of the charges, he stands to face a lengthy imprisonment period of up to 25 years. The District Attorney further expressed gratitude towards the brave passersby who not only attempted to disrupt the attack but also provided invaluable help to the victim and succeeding in restraining the defendant until the arrival of the police.
On Tuesday, prior to the arraignment, the good Samaritans who rose to the occasion were acknowledged at One Police Plaza. NYPD Chief of Transit, Michael Kemper celebrated their heroic act in front of their families. He showered praises on Alexander Oswaldo Robles Lino and Josnan Alberto Palacios, the Venezuelans who intervened, calling them heroes.
Kemper further honoured the two brave men with citations. He commented, ‘Unfortunately, among hundreds of thousands of individuals, there could be a minuscule percentage present with malevolent intentions.’ Kemper stressed that such actions were far from the norm, praising the migrants saying, ‘what they did, and their actions, that’s the norm.’
Post the recognition event, Palacios, with the help of a translator, shared his thoughts with amNewYork Metro. Palacios expressed his hopes that such actions would serve in shifting the stereotype often associated with migrants, especially those who seek sanctuary in the United States from his native Venezuela.
The selfless act of courage from these migrants could possibly help in debunking certain negative narratives associated with them. To emphasize the point, Palacios said, ‘It is now being shown that there are good people here with good intentions and a good heart.’ Palacios hopes that such instances would emphasize the inherent equality of all humanity.
Palacios noted that it was important for these positive stories to gain greater visibility. He expressed, ‘At the end of the day, it is crucial for these stories to come to light.’ This, he believes, will demonstrate that everyone is essentially the same, challenging the pre-existing stereotypes about migrants.