NEW YORK (AP) – New York City police have made public body-worn camera footage depicting the moment officers shot and killed a machete-wielding man who had previously stabbed three individuals at the Grand Central subway station in April. The incident occurred on April 11, 2026, and has since drawn significant attention regarding police response in violent situations.
The video, which was uploaded to the New York Police Department's YouTube page on Friday, shows officers confronting 44-year-old Anthony Griffin as he brandished a large knife. This encounter took place around 9:40 a.m. at the busy 42nd Street-Grand Central subway station, a vital transit link connected to Grand Central Terminal.
In the footage, uniformed officers identified as detectives Ryan Giuffre and Anthony Manetta confront Griffin, who is seen walking up a stairwell while holding the knife aloft. The officers repeatedly command Griffin to drop the weapon, but he refuses to comply. Officer Giuffre draws his firearm as Griffin raises the knife close to his head, indicating his intent to engage aggressively.
Griffin, instead of complying with the orders, retreats back down the stairwell before advancing toward the officers with the knife still raised high. The officers attempt to de-escalate the situation through verbal commands, with Officer Giuffre pleading, "Nobody wants to hurt you. We can talk about it. Get down. Please." Despite their efforts, Griffin continues to move erratically, shouting phrases like, "I don’t want to be here. Shoot me," and "I am Lucifer."
Ultimately, as Griffin approached while armed, Officer Giuffre discharged two rounds from his firearm, striking Griffin, who subsequently dropped to the ground. He was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival, highlighting the tragic outcome of the incident.
In a statement following the event, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the situation as one where officers were confronted by an armed individual who had already caused harm to three people. She emphasized that Griffin had been given clear commands to drop the knife on at least 20 occasions. "Our officers were confronted with an armed individual who had already injured multiple people and was continuing to pose a threat," Tisch stated. "They gave clear commands. They attempted to de-escalate. And when that threat did not stop, they took decisive action to stop it and to protect New Yorkers on one of the busiest train platforms in the city."
The three victims of Griffin's initial attack—a 84-year-old male, a 65-year-old male, and a 70-year-old female—sustained various injuries described as "significant lacerations to the head and face" along with a skull fracture. Fortunately, their injuries were not deemed life-threatening, demonstrating the precarious nature of the scenario faced at the time by both the civilians and law enforcement.
The release of this footage and details surrounding the incident raise important questions about police protocols when dealing with mentally unstable individuals wielding weapons in public places. As society grapples with the complexities of law enforcement responses, cases like this draw public scrutiny and demand thorough evaluations of existing training and engagement strategies within police departments.
