A Brooklyn medical student has been charged with attempted murder after police say he shoved a 73-year-old grandfather into a moving subway train in a terrifying, unprovoked attack in the Bronx, NY.
The incident unfolded around 3:30 a.m. on New Year’s Day at the 161st Street–Yankee Stadium station, just hours after many rang in the start of 2026.
Police say the victim, Julio Figueroa, was standing on the platform when a complete stranger suddenly approached him and shoved him into a southbound 4 train as it entered the station. Figueroa reportedly struck the moving train and was thrown back onto the platform, suffering head injuries.
The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Anton Aleshin, was arrested and charged with attempted murder, assault, reckless endangerment, and harassment. Authorities say the attack appeared to be random.
Aleshin pleaded not guilty and was ordered held without bail. He is expected back in court on Tuesday. His attorney, who is affiliated with the Legal Aid Society, declined to comment.
Prosecutors said Aleshin is part of a residency program at Brookdale University Hospital. A spokesperson for One Brooklyn Health, which oversees Brookdale, also declined to comment on the case.
Figueroa, a grandfather of 17, remains hospitalized in the ICU at Lincoln Hospital. His niece, Venis Falu, said he required stitches to the back of his head and has little memory of the attack.
“He doesn’t really remember what happened,” she said.
Falu said her uncle was heading home after spending time at Empire City Casino when his night took a horrifying turn.
“It’s crazy that this could happen to a person who normally goes out and doesn’t bother anybody,” she said.
Investigators have not identified a motive for the attack. Family members say they are praying for Figueroa’s recovery but are struggling to understand why it happened.
“It made no sense,” Falu said.
Guess he had great parents – parents should be charged or the school that indoctrinated him. Send this person to jail or the loony bin for the rest of his life.