Man, 76, stabbed in torso by panhandler outside Midtown subway station: police

MIDTOWN, Manhattan (WABC) — A man is in critical, but stable condition after he was stabbed by a panhandler in Midtown, according to police.

Officials say the 76-year-old victim was approached by the suspect at around 11:30 p.m. Sunday.

The man refused to give the panhandler money near the stairs into the 34th Street – Herald Square subway station. When he walked away from the panhandler, the suspect stabbed the man in the torso, authorities said.

Officials say the victim stumbled into the subway station looking for help.

“When people usually ask for help, sometimes they’re a bit aggressive. Sometimes a tourist might shoo them away, and they don’t know how bad the person’s situation is. These guys may not have eaten in a few days, they overreact, and things escalate to where they shouldn’t have escalated,” a man, who has experienced homelessness himself, said.

The victim was rushed to Bellevue Hospital. No arrests have been made.

Police have been reporting that subway crime is currently down.

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