Man Pushed to Death on NYC Subway in Queens, Cops Release Video of Suspect Fleeing

An unknown woman pushed an unidentified man to his death in front of an oncoming subway train Thursday, the New York Daily News reported. The killing is the second such subway push murder in New York the last month.

The victim was reportedly standing on the elevated platform of a 7 train in the 40th Street Station on Queens Boulevard in Sunnyside around 8 p.m. when the woman, according to CBS News, suddenly pushed him. Witnesses claim the woman had been mumbling to herself prior to altercation and had been following him closely, New York Police Department chief spokesman Paul Browne said. The man appeared oblivious to the woman's presence before he was thrust onto the tracks, police said.

"This lady, she just pushed the guy on the tracks. Then she ran away. I was screaming and closing my eyes," said witness 21-year-old Tenzing Tegeng, one of five people on the platform, the Daily News reported.

The unknown woman fled the scene following the attack, racing down two flights of stairs and then disappearing onto the crowded street.

"She was so fast. I was like, 'Stop the lady!' " said Tegeng, who says she chased the woman with several others.

The New York Police Department released surveillance video of the suspect running away from the scene. She is described as Hispanic, in her 20s, heavyset and about 5-foot-5, and was wearing a blue, white and gray ski jacket and Nike sneakers with gray on top and red on the bottom. The surveillance video was taken at a nearby intersection, according to USA Today. The video shows a woman running from a crosswalk and down a sidewalk.

It was unclear if the man and the woman knew each other or if anyone tried to help the man up before he was struck by the train and killed.

"I knew he was gonna get hit by the train. That's why I closed my eyes. I didn't want to see it," said Tegeng.

"I could see him, and I could see a train coming. And I couldn't do anything. I was so helpless. He was trying to get up. It was so fast. He looked shocked. He didn't scream," she said.

Police have yet to identify the victim. It was unclear whether the man and the woman knew each other, authorities said.

Witnesses say the woman had been sitting a lone on a bench as she mumbled to herself, occasionally getting up to pace back-and-forth.

"She was acting weird and crazy," an unnamed source said to the Daily News.

Authorities are hoping to glean the victim's identity from his laptop and wallet, which were left at the crime scene, a source told the Daily News.

The tragic murder echoes a similar subway push death only weeks ago. Earlier this month, Naeem Davis, a 30-year-old homeless drifter, allegedly shoved 58-year-old Ki Suk Han in front of an oncoming Q train at the 49th Street station in Manhattan. Davis is currently being held on murder charges.

Anyone with information about the subway push death at the 40^th St. Station in Queens is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at (800) 577-TIPS. The public can also submit their tips by logging onto Crime Stoppers or texting tips to 274637(CRIMES) then enter TIP577.