Man stabbed multiple times in head on NYC subway train

In Harlem, a subway ride turned violent early this morning when a 56-year-old man was stabbed in the head — all over a dispute for a seat.

The NYPD says the incident happened just after 6:00 AM aboard a southbound 1 train as it pulled into the 145th Street station. According to police sources, a 20-year-old man approached the victim, who was sleeping, and tried to wake him up to take the seat. After words were exchanged, the younger man allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed the victim in the head.

Officers from Transit District 3 were on board the train at the time and responded immediately, arresting the suspect on the spot.

Commuters reacting to the news voiced growing concerns about subway safety and mental health.

“A lot of these people that are doing these crimes aren’t mentally well — and they need help,” one rider said.

Another added that recent MTA safety upgrades, such as new gates to prevent people from being shoved onto tracks, “feel like a waste of money,” pointing to how quickly violence can still erupt in close quarters.

Law enforcement sources tell me that the 20-year-old suspect is also under investigation for allegedly stabbing his own mother within the past week. He remains in NYPD custody.

The 56-year-old victim was rushed to the hospital, where he is listed in stable condition and is expected to survive.

The incident is the latest in a string of violent confrontations on the subway, underscoring both public safety challenges and the urgent need for mental health support across the city’s transit system.