Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Subway Shoving Suspect Gives Jailhouse Interview: "I Was Under The Influence [Of Pot], That's Why I Didn't Help"
By
Ben Yakas
Published Dec 7, 2012
Modified Dec 7, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Dec 7, 2012
Modified Dec 7, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Yesterday, the homeless man who was arrested for allegedly fatally shoving a Queens man into the subway tracks in Manhattan pleaded not guilty to 2nd degree murder charges. Naeem Davis, 30, has already confessed to shoving 58-year-old Ki-Suck Han onto the tracks at the 49th Street N/R/Q station on Monday. But in a jailhouse interview with the Post, Davis insisted that he never meant to kill Han, and he was haunted by voices in his head during the confrontation: "I heard, ‘Naeem he's coming again. He’s coming again. You got to do something.’ I kept hearing voices like that," he said. "From the depths of my heart, I didn't mean to kill him."
Davis told them he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in his 20s, but wasn't taking any medication to treat his condition. He did admit he was high on marijuana when he bumped into 58-year-old Han just after noon on Monday. "I was under the influence [of marijuana]. It wasn't my intention to kill him. I just wanted him to get away from me," he said. Davis insists that Han, who was found with a bottle of vodka on him and may have been drunk, instigated the fight. "He grabbed my arm. He said, ‘I'm gonna kill you,’” Davis claims. "I yelled at him, "I don't know you. Get away from me." Here's a video of Han and Davis in a confrontation before the deadly push:
Video of altercation between alleged subway shover and victim from Gothamist on Vimeo.
Davis went on to describe the final confrontation: "I took out off my jacket and put down my coffee cup. I saw a red cap (inside his pocket) and I didn't know what he was going to do. I didn't see a bottle. I fought back in self defense. I was against the wall when I pushed him. He fell on his ass and then rolled." Davis says he couldn't help him get up because he was too stoned: “I was under the influence, that's why I didn't help...I saw the train hit him. I heard his bones crack."
He also added that there were at least five other men on the platform at the time—including photographer R. Umar Abbasi, whose haunting photo of Han ended up on the cover of the Post—but none of them helped as well: "I had my back to him. Even if I grabbed both his arms, the train still would've clipped him,” he said. “It happened so fast I didn't have time to react." Davis says he plans to accept a plea deal to avoid serving a longer sentence—he hopes to get 7 1/2 years to life by pleading guilty to manslaughter.
He also mentioned that he'd like to apologize to Han's widow in person: "I just want to see her face-to-face and say, ‘I'm sorry,’" he said. "It would make things easier for me in here."
Tagged
fatal subway shove
ki-suck han
manhattan
MTA
naeem davis
subway
subway shoving
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NY Gov. Kathy Hochul, Bruce Blakeman spar over immigration, cost of living in debate
The Democratic incumbent repeatedly invoked President Donald Trump. The Republican challenger largely avoided bringing up New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
By
Jon Campbell
Published Oct 13, 2026 at 9:05 p.m. ET
Manhattan neurologist charged with sexually abusing 2 patients, DA says
Prosecutors say Dr. Tariq Lamki abused two patients during appointments at a medical practice near Stuyvesant Town.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
Manhattan neurologist charged with sexually abusing 2 patients, DA says
Prosecutors say Dr. Tariq Lamki abused two patients during appointments at a medical practice near Stuyvesant Town.
By
Giulia Heyward
Years of bus headaches start Thursday as Port Authority advances Midtown terminal work
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
and
Carol Chen
ICE admits to using Roxbury, NJ warehouse site to process immigrants
By
Mike Hayes
Dolan's offer: Donations to Blakeman for Knicks tickets
By
Walter Wuthmann
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .