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Man pleads not guilty to murder, assault charges in NYC subway killing of 83-year-old
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Published Mar 30, 2026
Modified Mar 30, 2026
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PrecipiceofDuck via Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-4.0)
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Published Mar 30, 2026
Modified Mar 30, 2026
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A judge on Monday ordered a man held on murder and other charges for allegedly shoving an 83-year-old man onto the subway tracks on the Upper East Side and killing him.
Bairon Hernandez, 34, was charged with murder once the victim, Roosevelt Island resident Richard Williams, died from his injuries nine days after police said he was pushed onto the tracks at the Lexington Avenue–63rd Street station from the F and Q platform on the morning of March 8.
Hernandez is also accused of shoving a 30-year-old man onto the tracks at the same station around the same time. The younger man was transported to a hospital in stable condition, officials said.
The NYPD described both shovings as unprovoked attacks. The federal Department of Homeland Security said Hernandez is originally from Honduras, has unlawfully entered the United States five times and has been deported four times, most recently in 2020.
Hernandez pleaded not guilty in Manhattan court on Monday afternoon to all the counts against him. His head was bowed during the proceedings as a Spanish translator leaned beside him to communicate and several police officers stood around him.
Prosecutor Julie Noble of the Manhattan district attorney’s office said that after Williams was shoved onto the tracks, he had brain bleeding and “never regained consciousness.” The DA's office identified Williams as a veteran and said he was walking with a cane when he was pushed.
A judge denied Hernandez monetary bail, citing the nature of the charges, open drug-related cases against him in New Jersey and his legal status in the country.
Hernandez could face 25 years to life in prison if convicted on the murder charge.
Outside the courtroom, Williams’ family members said in a prepared statement that they are grieving his “immeasurable loss.” They described him as a dedicated husband, father and grandfather.
Police said Hernandez lives in Sunset Park and fled the subway station after the alleged assaults. He was arrested two days later.
Hernandez’s listed attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment early Monday. The defendant is due back in court in July.
NYPD data shows major transit crime so far this year through March 22 is at about the same level as by that point last year. More than 480 such crimes have been recorded so far in 2026, with grand larcenies, felony assaults and robberies comprising most of the incidents.
This story has been updated with additional details.
Tagged
manhattan
new york city
public safety
transportation
upper east side
Ramsey Khalifeh
Ramsey Khalifeh is a transportation reporter on the NYC Accountability desk covering the largest transit system in the country. He was previously a general assignment reporter at Gothamist and worked on the Boston Globe's metro and copy desk. Got a tip? Email [email protected]
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