A 36-year-old man accused of pushing a 70-year-old woman onto subway tracks in Manhattan was removed from a courtroom and taken to a hospital Tuesday after authorities said he became disruptive while waiting to appear before a judge.
The suspect, Zaki Smith, is facing an attempted murder charge in connection with the alleged attack, which occurred at a Midtown subway station over the weekend.
Court Appearance Interrupted by Outburst
According to officials, Smith became verbally aggressive while waiting inside Manhattan Criminal Court for his arraignment on Tuesday evening.
Court officers attempted to manage the situation as Smith repeatedly shouted profanities and made threatening remarks while in custody.
During the outburst, Smith reportedly argued with a court officer and continued yelling despite being restrained in handcuffs.
Because of his behavior, court personnel escorted him out of the courtroom.
Authorities later transported Smith to a hospital for evaluation, resulting in a delay of his scheduled court appearance.
Arrest Follows Midtown Subway Attack
Smith was arrested during the Monday evening rush hour in connection with an attack that police say occurred around 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the 57th Street–Seventh Avenue subway station in Midtown Manhattan.
According to investigators, Smith allegedly shoved a 70-year-old woman onto the subway tracks without provocation.
Emergency responders arrived at the station after the incident and assisted the victim back onto the platform.
Police said the woman suffered a head injury, including a cut to her head, and was taken for medical treatment. Authorities have not reported any life-threatening injuries.
Charges Filed
Following his arrest, prosecutors charged Smith with:
- Attempted murder
- Felony assault
- Misdemeanor assault
The charges stem from the alleged subway platform attack, which investigators described as an unprovoked act of violence.
Prior Criminal History
Police said Smith has 14 previous arrests on his criminal record.
Authorities have not released additional details regarding those prior arrests, but investigators confirmed that he was on parole at the time of the alleged subway attack.
Investigation Continues
The investigation into the incident remains ongoing as prosecutors move forward with the criminal case.
Authorities have not released additional information regarding the motive for the alleged attack, and the case will continue through the court process following Smith’s medical evaluation and arraignment proceedings.
