Sixty-one-year-old Wai Kuen Kwok was waiting for a southbound D subway train at the East 167th Street station in Highbridge at 8:40 a.m. with his wife when a male came up behind them. Without any warning this male just pushed Mr. Kwok right off of the platform and into the train coming into the station.
He likely died instantly from multiple injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Mr. Kwok's wife, 59, was uninjured and told police that the man did not say anything. She said she did not recognize him, though at the time that he pushed Mr. Kwok, the man was wearing a black balaclava. It's unclear if she has seen any video footage of the man.
In an odd twist, a person who saw the man believed to have shoved Mr. Kwok was on a bus a little while later and realized the person who
he saw rushing away from the scene was also on the bus. Too fearful to say anything, this witness waited until well after the man got off before telling the bus driver. Police were called and the witness was able to tell them where the man got off.
Video surveillance in the area was obtained and on the video the man could be seen going into a grocery store and coming out, calmly smoking a cigarette. Police released that video and urge the public in New York to look and see if they recognize the man. There is also footage of him walking outside of the subway station.
The deceased is said to have been a hard-working
family man, father of two, who helped his children get an education. His son Gary is a a 29-year-old doctoral student.
The incident has again raised fear amongst New York subway riders.
