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Williams suffered critical injuries when his head struck the tracks, sustaining multiple fractures and bleeding on the brain, according to his granddaughter Samantha Loria.
“Thank God there wasn’t a train coming,” Loria said. “The hardest part is I can’t have a conversation, or hug him again.”
She described her grandfather as a man who always put others first. “He was a very selfless man. He would give anyone the last shirt on his back,” she added.
Rodriguez, speaking in Spanish to CBS News New York, said he felt overwhelmed and fearful after the attack.
“They should have more security at train stations,” he said.
The NYPD released surveillance images of Hernandez on Monday as the search for the suspect intensified. By Tuesday morning, authorities had taken a person of interest into custody. By evening, Hernandez was formally charged, bringing some relief to an anxious community.
This terrifying episode comes amid a growing wave of subway attacks in the city. NYPD statistics show nine push incidents have already occurred so far in 2026. By comparison, there were 19 incidents in 2025 and 26 in 2024, signaling a troubling upward trend in violent subway confrontations.
Commuters and families are increasingly worried about traveling on New York City’s trains, especially as violent incidents appear to be happening with more frequency. Critics argue that security measures remain insufficient to protect riders from preventable attacks.
The case of Hernandez highlights the risks posed when dangerous individuals are able to roam freely, raising fresh questions about immigration enforcement, public safety, and city policies. With one elderly veteran in critical condition and another rider traumatized, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities New Yorkers face every day on public transit.
