New York City’s subway system turned into the scene of a chilling encounter this week when a homeless man allegedly shoved an off-duty police officer onto the tracks.
The suspect, Aaron Walker, made an equally striking appearance in court the following day, donning a hoodie featuring Pennywise the Clown – the terrifying villain from Stephen King’s It.
The Alleged Attack at the East Village Station
Walker, 28, is accused of attacking a 24-year-old officer on Tuesday night at the 14th Street/Third Avenue L train station in the East Village.
The officer, who had just finished his shift providing security for the United Nations General Assembly, reportedly suffered minor injuries during the struggle.
Police say Walker allegedly punched the officer in the back of the head, grabbed him by the shirt, and shoved him onto the subway tracks.
Both men fell onto the tracks but managed to get back onto the platform, continuing to grapple before Walker jumped onto the northbound tracks and made his way toward the 14th Street-Union Square station.
Arrest and Court Appearance
Responding officers, including the injured cop, quickly tracked Walker down on an uptown L train and arrested him on the spot.
At his first court appearance, Walker remained silent and expressionless while wearing the same Pennywise hoodie he reportedly had on when the incident occurred.
He faces eight charges, including attempted murder, attempted assault, attempted reckless endangerment, two counts of criminal trespassing, and two counts of disorderly conduct.
A History of Arrests
This is not Walker’s first run-in with the law. Court records show 18 prior arrests, including a recent subway assault in Brooklyn on September 13, where he allegedly punched a 22-year-old man multiple times.
Walker was charged with third-degree assault, a misdemeanor, and granted supervised release.
Additionally, Walker has faced multiple theft charges over the past few months.
Last week, he was arrested for stealing items from a Target store in Tribeca and released on his own recognizance.
Earlier, he allegedly stole vinyl records from Barnes & Noble stores in Brooklyn and Manhattan during July and August, but the charges were not severe enough to hold him in custody.
Next Steps in the Case
Walker’s arraignment for the attempted murder of the NYPD officer is expected to take place soon.
Authorities continue to investigate the East Village incident, highlighting ongoing concerns about safety and crime in New York’s subway system.