Panic erupted inside Grand Central Terminal on Saturday morning when a machete-wielding attacker launched a brutal and random assault, injuring three elderly victims before being shot and killed by police.

The suspect, identified as 44 year old Anthony Griffin, began the attack shortly before 10 a.m., first slashing an elderly man on a subway platform before moving through the station and attacking additional victims. The victims, an 84 year old man, a 65 year old man, and a 70 year old woman, suffered serious lacerations, including head wounds and, in one case, a skull fracture. All were rushed to hospitals and are expected to survive.

Witnesses described crazy scenes as commuters ran away, with bloodied victims and heavy police presence taking over one of the busiest transit hubs in the United States. Subway service on multiple lines was disrupted as the scenes needed to be secured. Two NYPD officers were alerted to the situation and quickly confronted the attacker and were both taken to a hospital to be treated for tinnitus. Griffin was armed with a large machete and behaving erratically, claiming he was “Lucifer.” Despite more than 20 commands to drop the weapon and various attempts to de-escalate the situation, the suspect kept advancing towards the officers with the weapon. At that point, one officer opened fire, shooting him twice.

Griffin was transported to Bellevue Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Authorities say the attack was random, with no known connection between the victims, and that Griffin had prior arrests, including one involving a weapon, adding to concerns about repeat offenders and safety in the NYC Subway system.

Mayor Mamdani praised the swift police response, saying it prevented further violence and promised an internal review is now underway, and that body camera footage will be released.